R.I.P. Easy Rider Dennis Hopper 1936 -2010

I met Mr. Dennis Hopper briefly at a screening of his 2nd directorial effort "The Last Movie" at the London Institute of Contemporary Arts. I was lucky enough to capture the moment in the photo below.

This is how I'll remember him, his seemingly shy vulnerableness belying a clarity and insight that could cut through steel, all with a drawl.

Dennis Hopper at the The Institute of Contemporary Arts, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

The Brothers Bloom & QA with Director Rian Johnson

Wearing the charms and eccentricities of Wes Anderson on its sleeve, THE BROTHERS BLOOM is a classy indie crime caper and the second feature from head-turning filmmaker Rian Johnson (BRICK).

Adrien Brody (THE DARJEELING LIMITED) and Mark Ruffalo (SHUTTER ISLAND) pair up as the dysfunctional Bloom brothers, an orphaned sibling outfit who lay claim to being the best conmen in the world.

As the kings of their game, the brothers rejoice in leading a dishonest life, swindling the rich with their dashing charm and guile. But Bloom (Brody), growing restless and itching with discontentment, shies away from the fraudulent lifestyle. Until, that is, Stephen (Ruffalo), the elder of the two, convinces him to take on one last job.


Co-presented by The Script Factory

Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Robbie Coltrane, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody

The Brothers Bloom + Q&A with Director Rian Johnson

Where:
Clapham Picturehouse
76 Venn Street, London, SW4 0AT

When:
6:20pm, Thurs 3 Jun, 2010

More info:
Over at the Picturehouse website

4.3.2.1 & QA with Director Noel Clarke

While Jo (Emma Roberts) is chained down in a dead end supermarket job, her friends are all out on their own separate adventures. Cassandra (Tamsin Egerton) is jetting off to New York to meet her internet boyfriend, Kerrys (Shanika Warren-Markland) is on a one woman crusade fighting for female liberation and Shannon (Ophelia Lovibond) is on a one-way trip to meet her maker. But a chance encounter with some diamond thieves sends their separate worlds on a collision course with not only each other, but fate itself. These four girls are about to have three days they will never forget - if they survive, that is.

Director: Noel Clarke

Starring: Noel Clarke, Adam Deacon, Ophelia Lovibond, Shanika Warren-Markland, Rosanna Arquette, Ben Miller, Sean Pertwee, Mandy Patinki

4.3.2.1 & QA with Director Noel Clarke

Where:
Curzon Soho, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 5DY

When:
6:30pm, Mon 31 May, 2010

More info:Over at the Vue website

Jeffery Deaver to write the new James Bond novel #007px

Jeffery Deaver to write the new James Bond novel

The press release reads:

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd has chosen international bestselling thriller writer, Jeffery Deaver, to write a new James Bond book.

The novel, currently known as Project X, will be published one year from today for Ian Fleming’s birthday – May 28, 2011. It will be published by Jeffery Deaver’s publishers Hodder & Stoughton in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US.

Jeffery Deaver has written 26 novels and sold more than 20 million books worldwide. His books have topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and he has been described as ‘the most creative, skilled and intriguing thriller writer in the world’ (Daily Telegraph) and ‘the master of ticking-bomb suspense’ (People magazine).

007 came to life fully-formed in 1952 when Ian Fleming wrote Casino Royale. Since then over 100 million James Bond books have sold worldwide.

In 2004, Deaver won the Crime Writers’ Association’s Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for his book Garden of Beasts. In his acceptance speech he talked about his life-long admiration of Fleming’s writing.

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, was in the audience. She explains, ‘I’d always enjoyed Jeffery Deaver’s thrillers, but I particularly liked Garden of Beasts: it demonstrated that he was not only a master of the contemporary American thriller but could also write compelling novels of period suspense within a European setting. I didn’t know anything about the author himself and expected a fairly low key response from him when he received our award.

‘I was surprised and delighted when he spoke very fondly of Ian and about the influence that the Bond books had had on his own writing career. It was at that point that I first thought that James Bond could have an interesting adventure in Jeffery Deaver’s hands.’

Deaver comments, ‘I can’t describe the thrill I felt when first approached by Ian Fleming's estate to ask if I'd be interested in writing the next book in the James Bond series. I began reading them when I was about nine or ten, ignorant of the Cold War politics they explored but enthralled by their sense of adventure and derring-do. I continued to read and reread them, which was fortunate because as a teen and adult I found, of course, nuances, that were invisible to a child.’

He continues, ‘The Bond books were important parts of my life – both literarily and personally. They appealed to me as wonderful stories but they also stood as singular examples of a thriller writer’s craft. I learned, through osmosis as well as design, much technique from Mr. Fleming’s work; compactness, attention to detail, heroic though flawed characters, fast-pacing, concrete imagery and straight-forward prose.’

Unlike Sebastian Faulks’ centenary novel, Devil May Care, Project X will be set in the present day. Jeffery Deaver has started work on the book and his title is yet to be revealed.

David Rosenthal, Executive vice-president and Publisher of Simon & Schuster, comments, “For Simon & Schuster, Deaver and Bond are a peerless combination: clever, suspenseful and sophisticated. Jeff Deaver will produce a popular entertainment of the highest order.”

Jeffery Deaver is the author of a number of internationally bestselling crime series. He is best known for his Kathryn Dance and Lincoln Rhyme books, most notably The Bone Collector, which was adapted for film in 1999, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Deaver has also written two award-winning short story collections, as well as stand-alone novels including Garden of Beasts and The Bodies Left Behind, which was named Novel of the Year at the International Thriller Writers’ Awards in 2009.

Jeffery Deaver was born near Chicago in 1950. Before becoming a full-time author in 1990, he was a journalist, like Fleming, and attorney. He started writing suspense novels on the long commute to and from his office on Wall Street. His books are now translated into 25 languages. Deaver lives in North Carolina.

Jeffery Deaver’s latest Lincoln Rhyme thriller, The Burning Wire, will be published in the US on June 1st and in the UK on July 22nd. A standalone thriller titled Edge will follow in November 2010 in both the US and the UK.

The original Fleming novels are published worldwide by Penguin Books.

More info:
Over at http://www.jamesbondprojectx.com/

The Disappearance Of Alice Creed & QA J. Blakeson

An abduction takes several unexpected turns in this independent British thriller. Hard-edged Vic and weak-willed Danny are a pair of ex-cons who believe they are executing the perfect crime when they kidnap the daughter of a wealthy family (Arterton). But their victim is smarter and more resourceful than they had bargained for, and Danny's allegiances can be manipulated in ways Vic never anticipated.

Director: J. Blakeson
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Martin Compston, Eddie Marsan

The Disappearance Of Alice Creed & QA J. Blakeson

Where:
Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG

When:
6:00pm, Weds 2 Jun, 2010

More info:Over at the Picturehouse website

Battleship Potemkin with Zombie Zombie Live

French duo Zombie Zombie have gained worldwide attention since their debut album A Land For Renegades in 2008, both as a formidable live band and as music producers of the highest calibre. Through their use of vintage analogue synthesizers the band create intensely atmospheric music that has oft drawn comparison with the soundtracks of John Carpenter, the scores by Goblin for the films of Dario Argento and, notably, Gil Melle's soundtrack for The Andromeda Strain.

Such references would not seem to lead obviously to working on Battleship Potemkin, yet the band's passionate re-imagining of Eisenstein's silent classic has been heralded as a triumph since its debut performance in Paris at the end of 2009. The BFI are delighted to present the UK Premiere of this re-score.

Premiere: Battleship Potemkin with Zombie Zombie Live

Where:
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road, London, England SE1 8XT

When:
6:30pm, Fri 28 May, 2010

More info:Over at the BFI website

The African Queen Premiere & QA with Anjelica Huston and Angela Allen

The BFI are delighted to welcome Anjelica Huston and Angela Allen (Script supervisor/Continuity on The African Queen) to the BFI Southbank stage for the London premiere of the new restoration of John Huston's classic Oscar-winning adventure The African Queen.

The saga of filming CS Forrester's tale of an unlikely couple who join forces on an African riverboat to sink a German warship looms almost larger than Huston's film, with everyone involved – including Cardiff – recalling the illness and dangers that beset them in Congo and Uganda. But much ingenuity was also needed to link material shot in Turkey, London and LA for this classic adventure that brought Bogart his only Oscar.

London Premiere: The African Queen + Q&A with Anjelica Huston and Angela Allenci

Where:
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road, London, England SE1 8XT

When:
6:20pm, Sat 27 May, 2010

More info:
Over at the BFI website

Kodak Video Contest

Brief: The Real Kodak moment happens when you share.

Create a 30 -60 seconds video for Kodak to show how "The Real Kodak moment happens when you share" to be used across multiple mediums, including broadcast, online and in-store execution to win an all expenses paid VIP trip to the MOFILM awards in Cannes, France on June 22nd with guest Jon Landau, Producer of Avatar and Titanic. Other prizes include KODAK Digital Cameras, Pocket Video Cameras, Digital Frames and Motion Picture Film!

As the soul & science of imaging, only Kodak creates emotional technology that makes it easier to make, manage, and moves images and information to enhance and strengthen human relationships. We believe that the world will be a better place when we all fully commit to strengthening relationships.

The moments we capture can stir powerful emotions. But if we don’t share them, they lose their power. That’s why we believe that the real Kodak moment happens when a picture is shared. The real Kodak moment is the laugh, the goosebump, the smile, the tear; the moment that renders you breathless or even speechless.

No other company empowers people with the easiest, most intuitive, most
creative ways to make these moments happen.

Kodak Video Contest

Deadline:
Tues 8 Jun, 2010

More info:Over at the Mo Film website

Michael Winterbottom Q&A & Preview screening of The Killer Inside Me

Based on the 1952 novel by American crime writer Jim Thompson, THE KILLER INSIDE ME is Winterbottom’s searing examination of a mind in crisis. Probing cinematic boundaries both moral and aesthetic, this is the controversial director’s most provocative work to date.

Casey Affleck (GONE BABY GONE) plays Lou Ford, a Deputy Sheriff who polices the streets of his small town with a crocodile smile and the dead eyes of an insane killer. The film makes a brutal statement about the corruption of the human soul, but it is also a powerful and arresting piece of genre-defying cinema from Winterbottom, who is one of the few directors with the intelligence, vision and bravery to pull it off.


Preview screening of The Killer Inside Me & Q&A with director Michael Winterbottom

Where:
The Ritzy Picturehouse
Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW2 1JG

When:
6:20pm, Tues 25 May, 2010

More info:
Over at the Ritzy Picturehouse website

Producing with Iain Smith at the LFS

Screening of Children of Men followed by Q&A with producer and LFS alumnus Iain Smith (The Fountain, Cold Mountain, The Fifth Element, The Killing Fields) Starring Clive Owen, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore, Danny Huston (an LFS alumnus)

Children of Men
Set in 2027, when no child has been born for 18 years and science is at loss to explain the reason, African and East European societies collapse and their dwindling populations migrate to England and other wealthy nations. In a climate of nationalistic violence, a London peace activist turned bureaucrat Theo Faron, joins forces with his revolutionary ex-wife Julian in order to save mankind by protecting a woman who has mysteriously became pregnant. Written by Ryan Devlin from IMDB

Producing with Iain Smith at the LFS

Where:
The London Film School
24 Shelton Street, WC2H 9UB

When:
5:30pm, Mon 24 May, 2010

How to Build a Camera Jib for Under £140 ($200) - Film Riot

Film Riot brings you the best DIY filmmaking tips to help you do movie, video and film special effects on the cheap. It's not just how-to though. Delivered by real film makers, the show is interesting, entertaining, and wrapped in a hilarious easy to swallow coating.

How to Build a Camera Jib for Under £140 ($200) - Film Riot

Film Riot is a how-to trip through filmmaking from the hyper-active mind of Ryan Connolly. From how to make great effects to following Triune Films through production, Film Riot explores the art of filmmaking in a way you've never seen.

How to Build a Camera Jib for Under £140 ($200) - Film Riot

More info:Over at the Film Riot website

Chris Rock QA & Screening of Good Hair

Good Hair is a comedy-documentary starring funnyman Chris Rock (EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS) that brings African-American hairstyles to the fore.

When Chris’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” the dazed comic committed himself to finding out who had put that question into his little girl's head.

He began searching high and low through black culture to explore the multi-billion-dollar styling industry surrounding African-American hairstyles.

Discussing black celebrities’ personal experiences with their hair and the significant role that hair plays within the black community, GOOD HAIR is both an entertaining and eye-opening documentary that extracts cultural heritage from the most obvious if unlikely of roots.

The Ritzy Picturehouse are very excited to welcome Chris Rock to The Ritzy for an exclusive Q&A following a preview of his new film GOOD HAIR


Chris Rock QA & Screening of Good Hair

Where:
The Ritzy Picturehouse
Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW2 1JG

When:
6:45pm, Mon 24 May, 2010

More info:
Over at the Ritzy Picturehouse website

QA Chris Morris & screening of Four Lions

Written by Peep Show pen team Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong and directed by cult satirist Chris Morris (Brass Eye, Nathan Barley), FOUR LIONS is the latest British political comedy that is as tasteless as it is timely.

Following four Islamic terrorists from the north of England, Morris’s film depicts the transition of a group of young Muslim men from boisterous radicals to would-be suicide bombers.

This being Chris Morris, the jokes are razor-sharp and wryly tongue-in-cheek, as two of the men embark on an ultimately calamitous covert mission to Pakistan to train as bombers, while the other two recruit a fifth member and go about plotting their own martyrdom.



FOUR LIONS followed by a Q&A with director Chris Morris and cast members in person

Where:
The Ritzy Picturehouse
Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW2 1JG

When:
6:10pm, Sat 22 May, 2010

More info:
Over at the Ritzy Picturehouse website

An Audience With Britt Ekland

Icon and movie star, as famous for her love life as her films... but who is she really?

In a candid show, the legendary beauty tells about her childhood in Sweden, her big breaks and her doomed marriage to Peter Sellers. She also reveals all about her relationships with Rod Stewart, George Hamilton, Lou Adler, and Slim Jim Phantom.

Find out how she feels about motherhood and why she became patron of the Alzheimer's Society. This is one star that just keeps shining!

An Audience With Britt Ekland

Where:
Arts Depot
5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA

When:
8:00pm, Sat 22 May, 2010

More info:
Over at Arts Depot website

Sci-Fi-London screens Cargo at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Vast, cold, dark and silent: a planetarium show followed by a free screening of Cargo.

Come to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and enjoy this unique planetarium show exploring just how forbidding space really is. Find out how our descendants might overcome the challenges presented by the sheer scale of the universe, reaching cosmic destinations favoured in science fiction.

After the show there is another chance to see the Sci-Fi London festival closing night movie, Cargo. Join the crew of the Kassandra on an 8-year journey to Station 42 in the darkly atmospheric Swiss cult sci-fi movie.

From the SCI-FI-LONDON website:
Earth can no longer safely support life so most of the planet’s inhabitants now live in space on massively overcrowded space stations. Humanity’s only hope to escape from the chaos is Rher, a paradise-planet five light-years from Earth.

Kassandra, a rusty spacefreighter is on its way to Station 42, with young medic Laura left in charge of the ship while the rest of the crew lies in cryogenic hibernation. With four months still left on her shift, Laura patrols the ship but starts to get the feeling that she is not alone. Her exploration of the dark, ice-cold cargo hold ends in catastrophe. The rest of the crew is awakened, and a cat and mouse game begins in which nothing is what it seems. What lies hidden in the strange freight containers and who, or what, is also on-board?

This continues the long tradition of scary monsters in the confined quarters of a spacecraft that started before Alien and has continued up to the recent Pandorum, with this Swiss movie adding the darker sensibilities of European indie cinema that Hollywood invariably glosses over.

Sci-Fi-London screens Cargo at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Where:
The Royal Observatory
8 Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9NG

When:
6:30pm, Sat 22 May, 2010

More info:
Over at The Royal Observatory website

UK Premiere of BIRDEMIC plus Special Guests

It's the one you have been waiting for! The one that takes it to the next level and then some! Clearly the guys over at Curzon have read my plot outline for the brilliant future classic"BONES" as they thought that this post may be my thing.

The Curzon Soho MIDNIGHT MOVIES presents

From VIsionary Writer/ Director James Nguyen

Master of the Romantic Thriller™

C O M E S

A new breed in terror...

BIRDEMIC

The Curzon Soho MIDNIGHT MOVIES presents the UK Premiere of BIRDEMIC (plus Special Guests)

Curzon Midnight Movies is proud to host the first UK screening of cult sensation Birdemic: Shock and Terror, the new ‘romantic thriller’ by James Nguyen. The film is a horror/action/special-effects-driven love story about a young couple trapped in a small Californian town under siege by homicidal birds, and also tackles topical issues of global warming, avian flu, organic living, sexual promiscuity and lavatory access.

The Curzon Soho hope to welcome director James Nguyen to introduce the film. With thanks to Severin Films.

Join the Curzon Soho from 10pm for Reel Music DJ set (playing all your favourite film tracks) and cocktails.

“The latest hot ticket in America… a cult hit!” - BBC World News

“The greatest Avian Horror Flick since The Birds” - Time Out New York

“Birdemic’s hynoptic charm remains through Nguyen’s secret weapon: sincerity” - The Village Voice

Sign up to the Curzon Midnight Movies mailing list by emailing ‘listme’ to midnightmovies@curzoncinemas.com, join us on Facebook at MIDNIGHT MOVIES @ CURZON or follow us on twitter.com/midnight_movies.

Director: James Nguyen. Starring: Alan Bagh, Whitney Moore, Tippi Hedren. USA 2008. 90 mins.

UK Premiere of BIRDEMIC plus Special Guests

Where:
Curzon Soho, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 5DY

When:
10:00pm for Party, Film at 10:00pm, Fri 28 May, 2010

More info:
Over at the Curzon Soho website

Ray Harryhausen A Birthday Celebration Hosted by John Landis

The BFI join forces with BAFTA to celebrate the cinema legend's 90th birthday.


Ray Harryhausen holds a unique place in the history of cinema. Working alongside Willis O'Brien and George Pal in the 1940s, Harryhausen was inspired to develop his own stop-motion model animation and effects techniques which dominated many classic science-fiction and fantasy films over several decades. Transcending the typical role of animator, Harryhausen created characters which possessed their own unique personality and which were realistically combined with live action, earning him the freedom to work without studio interference. We are delighted to join forces with BAFTA to celebrate Ray Harryhausen's 90th birthday and this event will feature on-screen and in-person tributes from those who worked with him and those who have been influenced by his magnificent career.

If your'e a fan don't forget to check out the "Ray Harryhausen - Myths and Legends" Exhibition at The London Film Museum coming this July, 2010

Ray Harryhausen: A Birthday Celebration Hosted by John Landis

Where:
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road, London, England SE1 8XT

When:
6:20pm, Sat 26 June, 2010

More info:
Over at the BFI website

SCI-FI-LONDON 9 - Day 4: Life in 2050 Film Treatment Workshop

SFL: Lab or Sci-Fi-London: Lab Programme is a series of workshops, discussions, stand up comedy, debates, talks and the chance to interact with Sci-Fi filmmakers and writers.


Life in 2050 Film Plotting and Science coherence workshop
"This workshop has a mission and needs your help! At SFL we want to see more low-budget, British, science fiction films made: films that look into the near future and challenge some of the decisions humanity is making today. Will there really be clones mining the surface of the Moon for Helium 3? Will the sea levels have risen so high that there are only a few survivors living in giant Arks?

Sci-Fi London 9 : 2050 Film Treatment Workshop
Originally uploaded by Craig Grobler

Using the fantastic Hunterian Museum as inspiration and with the professional skills of a screenwriter and an author to assist you, try your hand at devising a plausible sci-fi movie idea, set in 2050. You could steer clear of bug-eyed aliens and focus on something closer to home. Whether it is Fantastic Journey, Coma or Moon in feel, make it feel real. By the end of the day, we want you to have worked out your basic drama and plot."

In the build up the Lab it had a real Sundance feel to it; it was about developing a treatment for a film, attendees were all interested in filmmaking or at least developing a story for a film, there was going to be guidance from people in the know and there was the promise of cylinder firing coffee. All in all, definitely my kind of thing and I was lucky enough to get a place for the Life in 2050 Film Treatment Workshop as places were snapped up really quickly.

The gist of the Treatment Workshop was that it was to be the opportunity to gleam insight from the people who understood the Science as well as the Fiction in Science Fiction and then have that insight shaped into a plausible sci-fi movie idea, circa 2050.


The workshop was hosted by science fiction writers Philip Palmer and Tony Ballantyne representing the Fiction and Environmental Scientist Jonathan Cowie and Microbiologist Dr. Simon Park to cover the Science part.

The format for the day long workshop was to loosely follow the framework below:

• Introduction to the Film Plotting and Science coherence workshop and the panel by Robert Grant (Literary Editor for SCI-FI-LONDON). He also set the scene by laying down the foundation theme for the day “extrapolation”.

• A quick run through of the day from Philip Palmer
• A short talk from Tony Ballantyne about the difference between idea and story
• Think about/discuss someone you know. Use that persons personality/traits as the basis for a character.
• Discussion of character driven plots.

• An interesting stimulus talk from environmental Scientist Jonathan Cowie about the importance of accurate Science in Science Fiction and what we can expect from life around the middle of this century. Forthcoming surprises include; a certainty that technology will advance, increases in population a shortage of resources including; energy, water & food culminating in John Beddington’s “The Perfect Storm”. But all is not lost because we can change. Cowie also pointed out that possibly Artificial Sentience may be a more important breakthrough than Artificial Intelligence.

It was about that point for the first time the relevance of SCI-FI-LONDON 9’s theme of Life in 2050 dawned on me. It wasn’t some random year from the future - it could well be the crossroads of survival of the earth.

• Brainstorm ideas and develop them into scenarios. One of the throw out ideas from this session was, well I think Tony Ballantyne described it perfectly on his blog.
  

“…but we began to discuss possible stories. Philip Palmer was rather taken by the looming phosphorus shortage and we spent a happy time discussing recycling skeletons. As Philip kept pointing out, the key to a script is great visuals, so we imagined skeletons on buses, Gothic churchyard scenes and piles and piles of bones…”

Turns out earth needs phosphorus for fertilisation and “has no synthetic alternative, is being mined, used and wasted as never before.” The typical cycle of phosphorus helping plants grow, then running off into the seas to be returned by volcanoes has been interrupted by man, hence catastrophe when we run out of phosphorus.

Naturally I spun off to the future world of “BONES” where although man had ruined the world in a war he has come to terms with most of the problems facing the biodiversity (apart from the phosphorus shortage), split humanity into two societies, 30% in their walled off utopia supported by the other 70% in a wasteland “harvesting” human bones to ensure Utopia’s ongoing survival. The majority of the both unaware of the other societies existence.

Some of the colourful citizens of wasteland include:

- Harvesting colonies where non sentient and genetically modified life forms where grown so that there large bone growth could be harvested for their phosphorus content

- Bone Raiders marauding raiders that service the black marker by digging up, procuring or de-boning both humans and animals. Years without protection in the wastelands have caused the elements/irradiated bacteria to mutate the Raiders - Hell I don’t know what the changes are; increased resilience, immunity to something or other, sight in the dark, increased speed/strength, webbed arms, an addiction to calcium, etc. But what ever it is I’m sure it will be important later in the plot.

The fragile balance between earth and the two societies is ticking along but complications arise (thanks Dov) as Utopia has stockpiled sufficient phosphorus to fuel there needs for the foreseeable future and will no longer need the harvesting colonies.

Into this world comes "BONES" a freak of nature. Remember the genetically modified life forms? Well one of them via a plot device (only to be revealed later on in the story) has developed sentience and whilst hooked up to the life support/gene infusion pod becomes self aware and although it only has the mental capacity of a young child it’s developing and learning from its environment. BONES’s increased growth & modification means that it has a big deformed body composed mainly of super bone making him stronger and almost unbreakable. Yea I’m still going through a film tough guys really aren't just regular guys that need to find there inner hero, they are film tough guys for a reason period. Just realised that BONES always has a stogie hanging from his lip because his body doesn't generate some sort of chemical that’s needed so he gets it from sucking in the fumes from dead leaves or something or other.

Anyway BONES has been adopted by one of the female harvesters who wants to mother him. BONES has also got the attention of one of the senior Bone Raiders who sees the potential in him as a living weapon. A tug of war over BONES develops between the female harvester and the Bone Raider.

Our story picks up as the clock is ticking down in the final chaotic days before one of the harvesting colonies is to shut. Will BONES become a Killing machine for the Raiders? Will he develop empathy under his surrogate mother? Will he wander the wastelands like an avenging Samurai clearing it of the Bone Raiders? Will he save the Harvesting Colony by taking down the Utopian society? Will he save humanity by merging Utopia and the Wasteland? Will we find the answers to these questions before the sequel BONE2: FRACTURED UTOPIA (the original title BON2 DRY has been snapped up by a Lance Henriksen/Luke Goss film)

Anyway that was off the top of my head and also unfortunately signalled the end of my day as I was off exploring the wastelands with the Child warrior saviour.

• Flesh out a scenario(s) for your character, drawing on the panel for advice and guidance

• Lunch
• Tour of The Hunterian Museum - Also feeding the stimulus gland was our location as the workshop was held in the awe/fear inducing Hunterian Museum part of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The Hunterian Museum has to be seen to be believed it’s like an Encyclopaedia Incredibilica of animal and human specimens. It’s a little gruesome and the only reason you haven’t seen pics of the displays pasted all over the Internet is because there are strict rules governing public exposure to human tissue.
  

Click the image below to let Joshua McGovern, a Year 10 student from Twyford Church of England High School, London explain a little more about the Hunterian Museum – From the Hunterian Museum website

• Read out some scenarios and discuss them with the panel
• Talk about techniques to flesh out your plot using the elements “developed” earlier

• Stimulus talk from Microbiologist Dr. Simon Park about Microbes: Tales of the unexpected - turns out Bacteria are smart, communicate, hunt in packs, are very active, travel light and outnumber us. I guess the only point not addressed is why they haven’t conquered the Earth yet?

• Brainstorm ideas and develop them into scenarios add them to the “plot”.
• Flesh out a scenario(s) for your character, drawing on the panel for advice and guidance
• Discuss ideas developed so far and how they may progress
• Handover notes to be posted online at SFL
• Closing & Feedback

It’s worth noting that although authors Tony Ballantyne and Philip Palmer did not have speaking “slots” they interjected, answered questions and led lively debate on many most points.

Both Ballantyne and Philip Palmer supplied interesting notes that could be used for reference. Ballantyne’s notes where about extrapolating ideas. His notes are copyrighted so I can’t recreate them here but they covered; Orange alien landscapes that turn out to be the insides of a “The Jar of Tang” and other cop outs see here: http://www.critters.org/turkeycity.html), “Great Science Fiction Inventions” about inventions that drive plots and a list of points to consider when “How Does an Idea become a Story”.

If you’re interested I’m sure Tony Ballantyne can be harassed into allowing access to his 1 page reference sheet on his blog over here http://tonyballantyne.wordpress.com

Philip Palmer’s notes were more focussed on the practicalities of “Film Treatments and Script Formats ” and he also put forward a recommended reading list for budding film writers. Again I’m sure Palmer can be convinced to allow access to his two sheeter on his blog over here: http://www.philippalmer.net/

In theory by the end of the day we should have worked out a basic drama and plot. However and as I explained earlier I was sidelined by a severe B Grade Sci-Fi flick that needed immediate casting with undiscovered talent and further development. Add to this the over- stimulation caused by the specimens in the Hunterian Museum and the great talks from both Jonathan Cowie & Dr. Simon Park covering science fact that was more incredible than most sci-fi we see on screen today. Spinning us off into a myriad of different directions & possible themes whilst making it blinding obvious that nature truly is more fantastic than anything we can imagine.

All in all I had a terrific day, great stimulating talks from genuinely interesting people, interacting creatively with like minds as well as walked away with some useful insight that I hope to forward. I hope that this workshop serves as test case for SCI-FI-LONDON doing more of this kind of stuff particularly Labs with writers and filmmakers shaping ideas.

SCI-FI-LONDON 9 - Day 4: Life in 2050 Film Treatment Workshop

More info at SCI-FI-LONDON

Ray Harryhausen exhibition coming to the London Film Museum

One of the special treats at Fan Fest 2010 held at the London Film Museum was the opportunity to listen to film Legend Ray Harryhausen reflect upon his career and making films in his pioneering way.

Just prior to his talk the London Film Museum made the surprise announcement that to coincide with Harryhausen’s 90th Birthday the London Film Museum will be hosting a Ray Harryhausen exhibition.

The official announcement from the London Film Museum website:

"The London Film Museum are pleased to announce that on June 29th 2010 the London Film Museum will open its exhibition.

Entitled "Ray Harryhausen - Myths and Legends" - the exhibition will be focusing on the work of Ray Harryhausen and showcase the techniques he used to bring his Dynamation creatures to life.

The launch date is an extra special one as this is also Ray’s 90th Birthday.

Ray is the father of modern day special effects. Without his imagination and wonderful fantasy films made in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s there would probably be no George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Nick Park or Peter Jackson. It was Ray who inspired these fantasy filmmakers and it is to him that each one credits Ray as their inspiration.

Ray began his art after seeing King Kong (1933) and following his first feature film Mighty Joe Young in 1949 went on to develop a technique known as Dynamation, which is a process that allows animated models to be integrated with live action. Other films followed, amongst which were The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1952), 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), One Million Years BC (1966), The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) and Clash of the Titans (1981).

These classic films 'starred' such creations at Cyclops, dragons, living skeleton warriors, a Medusa, a giant crab, scorpions and bees and of course dinosaurs.

The exhibition is being put together by the London Film Museum Advisory Panel including Leslie Hardcastle (founder of MOMI) and Jonathan Sands (Chief Executive of the museum), and with kind permission from The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation.

The exhibition will be housed in the rooms opposite the Charlie Chaplin – The Great Londoner Exhibition.

Ray Harryhausen exhibition coming to the London Film Museum

Where:
The London Film Museum
County Hall, Riverside Building, Southbank, London SE1 7PB,

When:
The exhibition opens on June 29th 2010

More info:
More info at the London Film Museum

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (the graphic novel)

Since the release of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead in the early 70s Zombies have been enjoying an increase in popularity. In 2005 the un-dead invaded the Marvel Universe and wreaked havoc as well as countless crossovers and sequels - but they didn’t stop there and in 2009 they invaded the classics.

I was aware that Zombies had made their way to Regent England in the early 1800s but didn’t have a clue as to how it could all come together given the traditional nature of the material. It does in some twisted post modern way it made perfect sense that Zombies would pop up in the classics, but I never thought it would be possible given possible ownership and copy right issues. Turns out many of the classics are now in the Public domain and fair game. Pride & Prejudice was the first to receive the mash-up treatment and is an inspired first choice.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies was actually the secondary novel I was happy to receive for review – it being a comic and I, a veteran of graphic literature - I thought it would serve as a quick read before the main feature Vern’s “Yippee Ki-Yay Moviegoer”.

A couple of pages in I realised that Pride & Prejudice & Zombies would require some focus as well as it quickly fell into my favourite category of comic “read properly”.

Being a veteran of graphic literature since the Bronze Age means two things:

1. I can call pictorial literature “comics” and give the beat down to anyone that still feels the need to call me out on the tired “actually they’re called graphic novels now” debate.
2. I can quickly determine the pedigree of the reading material and whether a speed read is sufficient or a leisurely hey this is actually quite good, don’t rush, read it properly and enjoy it for as long as you can.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies retains the charm and crux of the original story – the ongoing tribulations of the Bennet family whilst navigating the minefield of aristocratic society trying to get five sisters married off, thereby assuring their futures.

To further complicate their dilemma Seth Grahame-Smith introduces the flesh eating unmentionables and Ninjas! Yes! you read right NINJAS!! As part of a young ladies upbringing - heading to the East for Kill Bill like tutelage under a master Martial Artist is an accepted part of life. And that’s exactly what our young heroine Elizabeth Bennet did, once back in England she is fast becoming the baddest ass in England.

The similarities in the aristocratic way of life and the warriors honour code are brought together well in the comic. Following the strict honour code is tough but will Ms. Bennet be able to adhere to it and still capture the heart of renowned Zombie killer and man about town Mr Darcy? Or will the spreading plague over run the countryside and ruin her chances?

I enjoyed Pride & Prejudice & Zombies it refreshed my memory on the classic which I haven’t read since I was very young whilst (I’ve avoided the many TV & Film adaptations) and brought in some contemporary adventure into the mix. The only issue I did have with the comic was adapting to the illustrative style at beginning of the book. I couldn’t distinguish which female characters was which.

Apart from that it’s a cracking good read. It’s not in my top 10 of comics but certainly nowhere the bottom of the pile either. I’m looking forward to reading more of these mash-ups - which is good because Quirk Classics have a couple more of these gems up their sleeve such as; Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Android Karenina and an original prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls takes us back to Regency England, the Land of the Undead and let’s us see the origin of the Zombie plague as well as a young Elizabeth Bennet grow from a stumbling teenager into the Zombie destroyer we see in Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. Below is the teaser trailer:

I'm not the only one who feels this way: "Pride & Prejudice & Zombies was the surprise publishing phenomenon of 2009" and has more than one million copies in print. It’s a best seller on three continents, has been translated into 17 languages and optioned to become a film starring Natalie Portman.

It should be noted I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies the graphic novel. There is a proper book available too with far less pictures and a lot more words as well as a Deluxe Heirloom Edition.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (the graphic novel)

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies is available in all fine comic stores in the UK as well as from as well as directly from Titan Books.

More information can be found over at at Quirk Classics

Twitter Film Reviews

Bite size & spoiler free reviews for films we wish we had more time to fully expound upon. Mostly lifted from my Twitter status straight after viewing the film.

There are only three things I dislike in this world. Bad Reviewers (mainly hacks who think that giving away a films plot followed by their opinion on whether it's good or not is a review), people who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.

My reviews try not to give away the dénouement but more of a comment on the viewing experience as I tend to have too much respect for anyone who has actually put the time and effort into making a film rather than sitting on their asses critising someone else's work.

- 0.5 Stars: A pox on you Sir
- 2 Stars: Unless you are a forgiving fan, avoid
- 2.5 Stars: Something's not workings
- 3 Stars: I enjoyed it
- 3.5 Stars: That's the good stuff! :D
- 4 Stars: Exceptional, this is movie magic

Lymelife

I was fortunate enough to catch a preview screening of Lymelife. I say fortunate as this bitter sweet film is wonderful. A warm slice of 70s American life. Told from the point of view of Scott Bartlett (Rory Culkin) a "shy Star Wars loving teenager obsessed with feisty girl next-door Adrianna (Emma Roberts)". It really captures the nostalgia of the 70s, coming of age, family life, the consequences of adult decisions and their impact.

All round the acting is superb and impressively under stated but the real star of Lymelife is the world that Writer/Director Derick Martini creates it will sweep you away and keep you engaged. There are some hear warming moments that will make you smile while easing you into the tension building to it's conclusion. A great little film with powerhouse performances.

Heartbreaker - L'arnacoeur

Heartbreaker may be the perfect way for the ladies to escape the heat this Summer. But here are four things that should be noted to give some context to my thoughts on Heartbreaker:

1 - I think the lead Romain Duris is an immense talent. He was absolutely astounding in De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté (The Beat That My Heart Skipped) an earlier masterpiece from Jacques Audiard (Director of A Prophet / Un prophète) so my expectations are very high for his performance. There is actually sweet nod to My Heart Skipped in Hearbreaker.

2 - Even though I have been known to be a hopeless romantic I do lean heavily towards psychological, action and crime films.

3 - I thought Dirty Dancing was lame the first time I saw it.

4 - I represented half the male audience for the screening I - it was date night OK!. Come to think of it this was a very similar scenario to when I saw Dirty Dancing.

If you cannot relate to any of the points above you'll probably love Heartbreaker.

As far as sweet romantic chick flicks go I thought it was OK. I do prefer my films slightly darker and deeper but once I let go - Duris's charisma carries most of the film. There are many laugh out loud moments in the film. The audience were laughing and generally happy & buzzing the whole way through the film.

My biggest issue with the film may actually be put down to cultural nuances or subtleties being lost in translation, as I struggled to gain emotional traction in the shift in Duris's character from the start to the finish. I saw what what was happening I just didn't feel it.

To be fair I'll probably watch it again on DVD at some point so that like Dirty Dancing I'll see it as a good girl film. I do think there is a gap for light European romances and hope that Heartbreaker fills that gap because I would like to see more from both Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis.

Get Him To The Greek

I've never seen any of Russel Brand's live performances, I did not listen to his radio show, I did not read his Booky Wooky, I occasionally caught him on TV and laughed my ass off at his wholly inappropriate and hilarious observational rhetoric I did see the slightly above average Forgetting Sarah Marshall and thought that Russel Brand was the best bit.

Yesterday I got to see the UK "Premiere" screening of Get Him To The Greek and laughed so hard I think one of my balls popped out of my nut sack. It should be noted that Jonah Hill And Russell Brand introduced the film so there is a chance that Brand, in the small confines of the packed cinema may have used some of his Svengali like hypnotism skills on me (and the crowd) because as the film started I was slowly and completely sucked into the world on screen. If you have seen the trailer you know the plot but it's actually has more depth than one would imagine. Most of the laughs were caused by Jonah Hill's suffering straight man to Russel Brand's jaded rock star. I'm giggling right now as I think of one particulary funny scene. The only issue I had (take it or leave it) is that Russel Brand does not move like a Rock God he well, moves like Russel Brand.

The Collector

Hey The Collector's not going to win any Oscars but it's a damn fine piece of film making. It's from the makers of Saw so you know what to expect. Director Marcus Dunstan makes a picture perfect chiller, building tension from the start & does not waste any opportunities to make this film flow. I saw this on the Empires largest screen 4 with a perfect picture & sublime audio so I really feel like bigging this one up even more - but am unsure of how it will play out on smaller screens. I should mention that The Collector was the first film of this sort that I have seen where the crowd actually cheered and clapped when our hero gets the upper hand at one point.

Killers

Ashton Kutcher is good in Killers, he continues to build on the credibility garnered with Spread. It's an amiable light film, a pastiche of 50s rom coms & spy films mixed with Mission Impossible 3 and Mr & Mrs Smith with a small nod to Die Hard. The Premiere audience were laughing the whole way through and there was a good buzz. Cast were all good particularly the hilarious Rob Riggle. I thought the end let it down though, a different ending could have lifted it to a really good film status.

Brooklyn's Finest

Fuqua, Gere, Cheadle, Hawke, Snipes, D'Onofrio, Barkin and Taylor. What more do you need to know? Just the right mix of emotion and shock in a story that's like a fuse slowly burning coming across as Pulp Fiction mixed with Crash powered by a top notch performances.

Robin Hood [2010]

Another film not given the respect it deserves. This is the version of Robin Hood we have been waiting for. I wasn't expecting to enjoy Robin Hood based on reviews I had been hearing, so I waited till all the hype died down before seeing it. Again "critics" proving that they don't know sh*t from Shinola. Sir Ridley Scott cleverly reinvents the Robin Hood myth and his masterful direction keeping this film on point and not letting it be mired down in over-indulgence or overstated performances. I can't wait to see the next installment in what I hope becomes a trilogy.

The Wolfman

I wasn't expecting much from The Wolfman as it had been universally panned. Possibly that is why I enjoyed this update of the Lon Chaney's 1941 The Wolf Man as much as I did. Nowhere near as gritty as An American Werewolf in London but a pretty good film and I was pleasantly surprised that performances were given right of way over CGI. Streets ahead of similar updates to classic creature features.

Ondine

I can see why some people would struggle with Ondine but I loved this little tale set in a Irish fishing village. Acting is top notch all round with standout performances from; Farrell, Bachleda and the young Alison Barry. Neil Jordan brings a real fair tale like quality to this minor classic. I did struggle with the accents but this added to the overall fairytale feel of the story.

Iron Man 2

About 5 Mins into Iron Man 2 I couldn't believe I was sitting in a cinema watching a Super Hero character from my childhood up on the big screen the way he should be. Loved it. 4 Stars up until the climax and then it lost 0.5 a star for trying too hard to be bigger & better than Iron Man.

She's Out of My League

Unpredictable set ups and characters raise She's Out of My League head and shoulders above the mire of many similar Rom-Coms. You'll be laughing out loud while rooting for the appropriate characters from the start to end. Fun film.

Black Death

Black Death is the film you wanted to see when you first heard about Inglourious Basterds (before Tarantino wryly pulled the carpet out from under us) - with the exception that it is set in the much darker and dangerous bubonic Plague ridden Middle Ages. This men on an intense mission doesn't let you forget the complex fundamental religious issues at its core whilst by no means being a "message movie". Much bigger and broader than Creep and Triangle live wire Christopher Smith's direction is top notch and really allows the cast to flourish. Black Death is the return to form of the Great British Darkness.

Death at a Funeral [2010]

With the all star cast I had such raised expectations. Some stand out hilarious moments mostly from show stealers Danny Glover & James Marsden. Good film but not great comedy. But most of the audience were howling with laughter from the get go.

Children of Men

I disliked City of Children the first time I saw it on DVD, at best I thought it was mediocre.But I was lucky enough to catch a screening of it at the LFS on a slightly smaller than big screen and loved it. I'm unsure of it was the Grind house atmosphere of the screening, sitting with an appreciative audience or just that I was seeing it on a big screen. I really enjoyed Alfonso Cuarón's minor classic. There are too many bits to to highlight but it all comes together in a pretty edgy look at the future with Michael Caine in one of his most compelling roles in a while.

Heartless

I was really expecting to enjoy Heartless, I rate Jim Sturgess since his star turn in Across the Universe and dislike dissing Brit films. All the pieces seem to be on the table; great actors, interesting plot, great mythology, outstanding use of East London locations but it just doesn't come together in a compelling way and the many strands seem a little thin. Every review I have seen/heard or read has rated it. Possibly over exposure to marketing killed it for me. I pretty much knew what to expect from the story before going into the cinema so there were no surprises. If you like Clive Barker's films after the original Hellraiser you'll probably like Heartless.

Remember Me

I would expect Robert Pattinson to be in films where he plays moody, misunderstood boy/men. But I didn't expect Remember Me to be a blindingly as good as it is - straight into my 2010 Top 10. Top notch performances with a genuinely engaging story. Remember Me is a possible future classic and certainly way above other similar Romance/Family Dramas.

Valhalla Rising

I was expecting a low rent Conan but Nicolas Winding Refn presents a bold, original and uncompromising Viking/Crusaders mash up. Loved the soundtrack and editing came across as a Peckinpah on acid. Mads Mikkelsen is outstanding as the stoic warrior and has outgrown his Bond break.

The Losers

Slick, polished, very well made, interesting characters/acting, great action scenes and visually stimulating. In spirit very close to the comic but it didn't work for me. It just felt a little too slick, way too much style over substance and lacked a bit of soul. Possibly one of those stories that works better as a comic.

Clash of the Titans [2010]

Great Saturday afternoon romp. Based on reviews I was expecting a really dire film, but when all is said & done & the hype died down - it's actually really fun. As with Leterrier's other works the pace is too fast for more liking, hence characters aren't allowed to fully developed. But the rest was quality, especially FX. Believable performances all round especially Neeson, Fiennes and Mikkelsen. Oh yes! I saw the 2D version.

Solomon Kane

Another one that could have gone either way - fortunatley good acting and solid direction anchor Solomon Kane and make it an enjoyable film quite close to the source material.

A Nightmare on Elm Street [1984]

Made 26 years ago one can overlook the cheesy bits to revel in the chilling shocker that is Wes Craven's classic horror. I'm not biased when I say the first 20 minutes of the original are better than the whole 2010 remake.


A Nightmare on Elm Street [2010]

Slightly less than faithful remake - without the tension or innovation of the original. But the newb next to me said "it scared him shizless and he would love to stay for the screening of the original (film to be shown after the 2010 version) but he was drained."

Hot Tub Time Machine

Hot Tub Time Machine hit the spot. Straight in to my 2010 top 10. Excellent 80s fun. Cusack revisiting/homage to the 80s = Ace. Doesn't take itself seriously. Excellent Pacing. Hilarious un-PC bits I was howling with laughter.

Splice

Splice gets it's 1st official UK screening at SCI-FI-LONDON 9. It divides the audience but is definitely a film that Sci Fans will be debating for a while. Interesting and challenging 3/4s that suddenly changes gear for the final quarter.

Airplane

I forgot how funny this king of the spoof is. The copy I saw had really dated and gave the film a real Grindhouse feel to it which added to the experience. Classic laughs.

The Ghost Writer

The Ghost is a sublimely delicious film! Love him or hate him Roman Polanski is possibly one of the last masters of film still alive.

Date Night

Just seen a preview of Date Night. It's a laugh out loud movie. Good fun from start to end.

I Am Love

Can't complain they don't make films like they used to. They do it's called I am Love. Rich, unexpected, Swinton shines, beautifully shot. Visconti mixed with Greenway & little Hitchcock style thrown in, 1/4 of the way through I thought Swinton was Italian.

Repo Men

Great seeing Jude Law in an action role, great FX, intresting concept, well made - still don't understand how it comes together so weakly. Not sure if I forgive them for lifting that scene from Old Boy. The non sci-fi person next to me thought it was good though.

Star Suckers

Starsuckers best documentary so far this year, quite taken about how indepth it is and the breadth it covers. If Star Suckers doesn't get a BAFTA nomination I'll be very surprised & disappointed. It's an excellent documentary.

Dear John

Enjoyable & has depth. Not a run of the mill romance . Just a little too long and loses some steam.

Shutter Island

As expected another quality production from Scorsese. I know it's based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel but it would have worked better for me had I known it was just a remake of William Peter Blatty's far superior albeit dated B grade The Ninth Configuration.

I Know You Know

Robert Carlyle again showing why he should be one of the UK's finest exports. Great performances & direction, the story develops well. However the subject matter (based on a true story) and setting is really dark.

Moon

I have to say watching Moon for the second time allowed me to analyse different aspects of the film as the story unfolds and the scenes where new Sam Bell and old Sam Bell interact are incredibly touching and have replaced the Sci Fi styled visual scenes as the best part of Moon for me. Rockwell really did deserve some kind of *cough* Oscar acknowledgement for his role as Sam Bell.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

We got to see Werner Herzog's re-imagining of Abel Ferrara's brilliant Bad Lieutenant at the London Film Festival 09 and loved it. These are the types roles that Nicholas Cage excels at, that combined with Werner Herzog's sense of quirky make this an interesting delight. Although Herzog says he has never seen the original Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans plays well against Abel Ferrara's original version.