CAPTURE LIFE IN A DAY

Sir Ridley Scott and Kevin Macdonald are asking YOU to help with n Historic Global Film Experiment. All you have to do is Shoot Your Life in a Day on July 24.

YouTube joins world famous filmmakers Ridley Scott and Kevin Macdonald in asking people around to world to help them create the first user-generated feature-length documentary film shot on a single day - July 24, 2010. Life in a Day is a historic global film experiment that enlists the global community to capture a moment of their lives on Saturday, July 24 and to upload that footage to www.youtube.com/lifeinaday.

Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (State of Play, Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void) will direct, bringing together the most compelling footage into a feature-length documentary film. The project will be executive produced by Ridley Scott (Robin Hood, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down) and produced by his company Scott Free Productions. Individuals whose footage makes it into the finished film will be credited as co-directors and 20 of these contributors will be flown to the 2011 Sundance Film Festival for the film’s world premiere.

Life in a Day is one of several efforts by YouTube to push the boundaries of music, art, and now film. YouTube Symphony Orchestra and the recently announced YouTube Play partnership with the Guggenheim are examples of the convergence of online video with traditional arts and Life in a Day takes this effort into the cinematic realm. LG Electronics is supporting Life in a Day as a key part of its long-standing Life’s Good campaign and to support the creation of quality online content that can be shared and enjoyed by all.

The director, Kevin Macdonald says of the project, “Life in a Day is a time capsule that will tell future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010. It is a unique experiment in social filmmaking, and what better way to gather a limitless array of footage than to engage the world’s online community.”

“Over the past five years, YouTube has changed the way media is created and consumed," said Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, YouTube’s parent company. "We're thrilled to give our community the opportunity to work with Kevin Macdonald and Ridley Scott and are grateful to our long-term partner, the Sundance Institute, for their support of this global initiative. I can think of no better place to premiere Life in a Day than at next year’s festival.”

“A vital part of our mission is to support individual storytelling around the globe and to provide a platform for expression and experimentation,” says John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival. “This is a great way to engage the YouTube community and to also provide Festival audiences with something new and unexpected.”

“LG believes in enriching people’s lives through technology and saw complementary objectives in the Life in a Day project,” says Dermot J. M. Boden, Chief Marketing Officer at LG Electronics. “For LG, this project is a fantastic opportunity to engage with YouTube users on a personal and emotional level that’s both rewarding and enjoyable. This initiative is perfectly consistent with our brand promise of “Life’s Good”!”

Scott Free will work with Rick Smolan, creator of “A Day in the Life” and CEO of Against All Odds Productions, a California-based organization that specializes in the execution of large-scale global projects that combine story-telling with state-of-the-art technology, to distribute cameras to individuals in remote regions of the world in an effort to ensure that the film is as inclusive and representative as possible. To learn more and upload footage after July 24, please visit www.youtube.com/lifeinaday.


Historic Global Film Experiment Asks YouTube Users to Shoot their Life in a Day
on July 24. Final Film to Make World Premiere at 2011 Sundance Film Festival

CAPTURE LIFE IN A DAY
Deadline:
24 -31 July, 2010

More info:
Over at the Life in a day YouTube Channel.

First Look: Robin Hood in battle

Finally a battle scene from Robin Hood has emerged! The true test of how good this film is going to be. What do you think?

Russell Crowe plays Sir Robin Longstride / Robin Hood; it is his fifth collaboration with Scott. Having loved the character since childhood, Crowe joined the project despite being initially displeased with the script. He spent 10 months reading books about the character and his historical basis, noting "This has got to be the best [Robin Hood depiction] ever done, otherwise I should be doing something else."

Crowe put on weight for 2008's Body of Lies, so Universal considered sending an NBA trainer to Australia to coach him back into fitness. Crowe trained with a bow and arrow for four months and was able to hit a target from 45 meters.

Robin Hood stars; Russell Crowe, Kevin Durand, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Vanessa Redgrave, William Hurt, Scott Grimes, Bronson Webb, Oscar Isaac, Léa Seydoux, Alan Doyle, and is directed by Ridley Scott.

First Look: Robin Hood in battle

New Robin Hood Images

Ridley Scott's Robin Hood chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self—preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French.

Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Oscar winner Cate Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.







Russell Crowe plays Sir Robin Longstride / Robin Hood; it is his fifth collaboration with Scott. Having loved the character since childhood, Crowe joined the project despite being initially displeased with the script. He spent 10 months reading books about the character and his historical basis, noting "This has got to be the best [Robin Hood depiction] ever done, otherwise I should be doing something else."

Crowe put on weight for 2008's Body of Lies, so Universal considered sending an NBA trainer to Australia to coach him back into fitness. Crowe trained with a bow and arrow for four months and was able to hit a target from 45 meters.


Robin Hood stars; Russell Crowe, Kevin Durand, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Vanessa Redgrave, William Hurt, Scott Grimes, Bronson Webb, Oscar Isaac, Léa Seydoux, Alan Doyle, and is directed by Ridley Scott.

New Robin Hood Images

Ridley Scott producing Pompeii

Sir Ridley Scott has signed up to produce a mini series based on Robert Harris's bestselling novel Pompeii. The four hour mini series is set in the ancient city of Pompeii around the time of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius a "dormant" volcano.

If you haven't read Pompeii - here author Robert Harris giving a really quick synopsis of his book.

Engineer Marcus Attilius is placed in charge of the massive aqueduct that services the teeming masses living in and around the Bay of Naples. Despite the pride he takes in his job, Marcus has pressing concerns: his predecessor in the job has mysteriously vanished, and another task is handed to Marcus: he is to undertake crucial repairs to the aqueduct near Pompeii, the city in the shadow of the restless Mount Vesuvius. And as Marcus faces several problems - all life threatening - an event approaches that will make all his concerns seem petty.

Roman Polanski who just made The Ghost Writer based on a Robert Harris book was earmarked to direct Pompeii put pulled out in 2009.

Ridley Scott will be producing Pompeii for Sony Pictures Television and Germany's Tandem Communications.

See all 5 of The Parallel Lines Shorts

If you have not already seen them all 5 shorts from The Parallel Lines project are now available to watch online. Parallel Lines is the outcome of a experimental cinematic collaboration between Philips and renowned film producers, Ridley Scott Associates (RSA), founded by legendary director Sir Ridley Scott.

We have embedded them below but for a better viewing experience we recommend you plug your extra bass headphones in and head over to www.philips.com/cinema

PARALLEL LINES: FIVE SHORTS, FIVE STORIES, ONE DIALOGUE

“There are millions of ways to tell a story. There’s only one way to watch one” – this is the creative seed which inspired a beautifully diverse yet thematically linked quintet of short films released today – the ground-breaking Parallel Lines.

Darkroom – Johnny Hardstaff
Set in a retro future Shanghai, Darkroom opens on a covert surveillance operative as he searches for his criminal quarry. Scanning a polluted city skyline, we see through his technology as he zooms ever deeper into a distant apartment and through the imaginative use of reflections and technology begins to unravel a sinister secret. Through this voyeuristic journey we are led to a climax with dramatic consequences.

Johnny Hardstaff expertly generates intrigue through his development of mood and tension. Namely with the use of the operative’s own hushed voice to provoke a sense of seediness and setting of the tone. As the audience is led deeper we find a fiendish pleasure in this voyeuristic approach. Darkroom proves a clever and absorbing short that packs a very original sting in its tail.

Podarok (The Gift) – Carl Erik Rinsch
In this sci-fi thriller, Podarok introduces us to a dystopian future. It’s a winter’s day in Moscow, but the familiar landscape is not all it seems. The traditional backdrop is balanced by the technological hints to the future on show. An experienced KGB Agent is on his way to deliver a special gift. Expressionless and giving the aura of emptiness the lone man makes his way across the city. As the secret of the gift is unveiled to the receiver, the desire for the object becomes evident. The agent must have it. Even at the cost of a man’s life. A high octane chase through Moscow ensues as the dead man’s robotic butler tries to rescue the precious gift. It must not be left in the wrong hands.

Carl Erik Rinsch cleverly uses the pacing of this short to evoke and speak out to our emotions. We feel the bleakness of this post apocalyptic future, the gloomy life of an empty man, the desperation of the chased and climatically, hope.

The Hunt - Jake Scott
The Hunt follows two men on a trail to find the ultimate prey. In the eerie woodland something lurks; a mystical creature. Soon we will find that the hunters may well become the hunted.

Jake Scott takes us on a slow pursuit, carefully building the tension through a seemingly desolate and hostile environment. Senses are heightened as Jake brings to life every inch of the hunt, every sound carefully designed to put the audience on edge: the crows in the background, the trickle of a stream, the earth moving under each step. As The Hunt nears its horrifying climax we hold our breath as the huntsman sets his sights. However his companion shows a fear and nervousness in his expression. Something is not right. Perhaps the intended prey is not to be provoked.

El Secreto de Mateo – Greg Fay
In this heart-warming tale set amid the tower block of a South American housing estate, a boy shows a young girl to a room with a secret. The girl is introduced to a donkey which the boy tells her is a unicorn. Delight and fulfilment fills the young girl as she is left to feel the magic of this moment in a life that has offered her so little. This joy is short lived as we are shown the difficulties of growing up as bullies taunt the pair. The boy stands up for his younger friend. Afterwards though, it all seems too much as the brave boy is left to cry quietly in the corner. Unawares to her friend’s pain the girl returns her attention to the beauty of the animal.

Greg Fay delicately shows us the hardship of growing up and the joy that can be brought on by a child’s imagination. Lighting is used to great effect. The hue and glow of a beaming sun fills scenes with a warmth, comfort and tender security away from the harsh realities of the world. El Secreto de Mateo leaves us emotionally speechless with the feeling of both happiness and sorrow.

Jun & the Hidden Skies – Hi-Sim
Through animation Hi-Sim transports us into the playful imagination of siblings Jun and Aco. We are instantly rushed from the children’s attic into space as a cardboard box transforms into a spaceship. This fantasy adventure excites as our heroes find themselves in the midst of a space battle resulting in the capture of Aco. Jun is left to fall from the skies before being saved by a fire breathing dragon. Jun and his new friend blow away the enemy as the plight to save the captive Aco gathers pace.

Hi-Sim manages to bring out a childlike excitement and curiosity from the moment we enter the attic. This beautifully crafted animation bursts with fantastic colours of an imagined world. Visual details have been carefully considered and realism breaks through from the quality of the effects. This is a polished short that is sure to please the whole family.

See all 5 of The Parellel Lines Shorts

Where
www.philips.com/cinema

When
Now

More info at www.youtube.com/philipscinema or www.philips.com/cinema

Phillips Parallel Lines surprise competition announcement

I've just got back from The Parallel Lines launch event and I'm a mixture of tired but still buzzing from the event. We got to see all 5 of the Parallel Lines shorts (El Secreto de Mateo, The Hunt, Darkroom, Jun & the Hidden Skies and The Gift) the way they should be seen on a big screen with superb sound.

All I can say is AWESOME! I know I say that a lot, but seeing the 5 different yet very connected and well made films was quite an experience. At the time I couldn't quiet put my finger on why I might be enjoying each of the films as much as I was, but it all made sense a bit later when Director of Darkroom Johnny Hardstaff said something during a QA session.

He said something to the effect that one of the primary factors that drew him to the project was the creative control the Directors had when making their respective films. Bam! Their it was I had just seen 5 films that although driven by commercial motives they were examples of what can be created when imagination is allowed free reign.

I have much to tell about the Phillips event at BAFTA, chatting with Director Johnny Hardstaff (bookmark his name name because you're going to be seeing some great stuff on the screen from him in the future), seeing all 5 of the films in one go as well as witnessing first hand some awe inspiring tech in the shape of an wiiiiiiiiiiiidescreen TV that has to be seen first hand to be believed - but more about that later.

Phillips dropped a real surprise towards the end of the presentation when they announced an amazing opportunity for filmmakers with their Tell It Your Way competition. I missed the beginning it really was a suprise! But he started by saying ... the chance to have your worked judged by Sir...

The programme card he is referring to:

From the press release:

Become the next Ridley Scott :
Philips announces global filmmaking competition
In association with ridley scott associates

Today, Philips launches an exciting global competition giving aspiring filmmakers the chance to have an original work judged by one of the world’s greatest film directors – Sir Ridley Scott, director of Hollywood blockbusters including Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982) and Gladiator (2000).

The competition, called ‘Tell It Your Way’, will also give one lucky winner the chance to gain a week’s work experience at Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) offices in Los Angeles, New York, London or Hong Kong.

The contest involves creating an original sixth short film to accompany Philips’ ground-breaking Parallel Lines series of short films, directed by RSA talents, Greg Fay, Johnny Hardstaff, Carl Erik Rinsch, Jake Scott and Hi-Sim. The five short films, released on www.philips.com/cinema, are part of a cinematic project whereby each director created a film in a different genre, with a different storyline, but all following the same six line dialogue.

The Parallel Lines films bring to life the cinematic capabilities of Philips TVs – unique Ambilight technology, award-winning picture quality, and superior sound - and are a cinematic interpretation of the campaign idea: “There are millions of ways to tell a story. There’s only one way to watch one.”

”I’m delighted to be involved with a project which supports aspiring directors and I’m looking forward to seeing how the entrants interpret the single dialogue brief,” comments Sir Ridley Scott.

“At Philips, we are committed to delivering a cinematic viewing experience at home. Through our partnership with RSA, we’re excited to be able to offer the public the chance to create their own film and have it be promoted globally as part of such a ground-breaking project as Parallel Lines.” comments Gary Raucher, Head of Integrated Marketing Communications, Philips.

Competition entries are open to anyone globally and should be submitted via the official Philips Cinema YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/philipscinema). Entries close at midnight 8th August 2010. Three rounds of judging will be held including public voting via YouTube. Finalists will be judged on criteria including creative storytelling, use of dialogue, and technical achievement. The top ten finalists will be selected by RSA directors and British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) Chairman, David Parfitt. The overall winner will be selected from the top five finalists by Sir Ridley Scott himself.

Runners up prize packages include an invitation to a RSA film premiere in London or New York including travel, accommodation; and a number of Philips Cinema 21:9 Televisions.

Full terms and conditions for the ‘Tell It Your Way’ competition can be found at www.philips.com/cinema

Phillips Parallel Lines surprise competition announcement

See: Parallel Lines - Johnny Hardstaff's Dark Room Short

Dark Room is a sci-fi noir thriller short by Johnny Hardstaff, it one of the five short films from the Parallel Lines project made by Ridley Scott Associates for Philips Cinema

The Parallel Lines project is a unique film project - each of the 5 shorts from burning new talent at RSA represents a different genre but all 5 of the films use the same dialogue: "What is it?", "It's a Unicorn", "Get away, Get away", "Never Seen one so close before" and "I'm sorry". We may have missed a line of dialogue, let us know if you know it.

Fortunatley we will be seeing the 5 shorts this evening in all their big and widescreen glory so I'm fighting the urge to watch the clip below till after - so I comment as yet.

The Parallel Lines shorts have been devised to launch (and demo) Phillip's new range of 21:9 Widescreen Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.

Johnny Hardstaff is a director and designer. Represented by Ridley Scott Associates (London) and Little Minx (Los Angeles), Hardstaff has directed and designed innovative moving image work across a broad spectrum of both commercial and non-commercial strands of the visual arts. Mass media clients include Sony, Radiohead, Orange, Toshiba, Sony PlayStation and the BBC amongst others.

Get the full experience at: http://www.philips.com/cinema

Become a fan and get the latest news at: http://www.facebook.com/philipscinema

See: Parallel Lines - Johnny Hardstaff's Dark Room Short

When
Two shorts are released today on YouTube and Facebook and the rest will be available from tomorrow at http://www.philips.com/cinema

Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines – Online Preview Screening Event

Amidst rumours that Ridley Scott has already mapped out Robin Hood 2 his Parallel Lines project for Phillips has an online preview screening this Wednesday. Parallel Lines is officially launched on Thurs 8th April.

We reported on RSA's Parallel Lines back here and are quite stoked that we are finally getting a chance to see the end result. RSA and Phillips teamed up to create 6 short films each using the same 6 lines of dialogue to launch Phillip's new range of 21:9 Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.

Sign up to the Philips Cinema Facebook group over here to RSVP your place for the exclusive preview screening event on Facebook.

Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines – Online Preview Screening Event

Where
http://www.facebook.com/philipscinema

When
From 7:00am, Weds 7 Apr , 2010

More info at http://www.cinema.philips.com/ or book Parallel Lines – Preview Screening Event!

Blade Runner: Designing the Future Panel Discussion (US)

Typically we focus on UK events but this one's a doozy and if any of our US readers get to go we're quite envious.

Bonhams & Butterfields’ prestigious Sunset Boulevard galleries in Los Angeles will play host to a panel discussion on April 15 centering around the cult classic film, Blade Runner.

Around 150 celebrities and industry power players are expected to attend the panel discussion, entitled “Blade Runner: Designing the Future.” The panel will dish on everything Blade Runner, from its environmental and social themes to the brilliant visual design that left audiences in 1982 reeling, and audiences today still just as appreciative of the classic science fiction film.

The Academy-award winning producer, Michael Deeley (The Italian Job, The Man Who Fell to Earth) will participate in the panel, along with legendary conceptual and industrial designer, Syd Mead (Star Trek, Aliens, 2010). Frances Anderton will moderate, and the Oscar-winning director of Blade Runner, Ridley Scott will attend, schedule permitting.

The event is to coincide with the opening of the auction preview for the 20th Century Decorative Arts sale, scheduled for April 20. Blade Runner fans will not want to miss out on this opportunity to pick up one-of-a-kind memorabilia from the iconic movie.

Featured auction highlights on preview include a signed promotional poster from the Blade Runner’s “Final Cut” release from the personal collection of Michael Deeley, a copy of a reissue of Philip K. Dick’s 1968 science fiction classic book on which Blade Runner is based, and a signed copy of Oblagon: Concepts of Syd Mead, 1985, which contains 17 pages of Mead’s art, created for Blade Runner from the designer’s personal library.

Blade Runner: Designing the Future Panel Discussion (US)

Where
Bonhams
7601 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90046

When
7:30pm, Thurs 15 April, 2010

For more info head over to Bonhams

Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines project & Carousel short film

Last week it came to light that Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) have been working on a series of short films for Phillips.

The project named "Parallel Lines" has been devised to launch Phillip's new range of 21:9 Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.

Ridley Scott on the Parallel Lines project:

“My production company receives hundreds of ideas every day, but this was something unique. The idea created a massive amount of enthusiasm from RSA directors around the world.”

Philips asked members of RSA to submit their short films, 45 submissions made, and five were picked as the finalists each representing a different genre. The chosen film directors and their films are:

Greg Fay - El Secreto de Mateo, described as a touching drama.
Johnny Hardstaff noir sci-fi thriller Darkroom.
Jake Scott's mystical horror The Hunt.
Hi-Sim's animation adventure Jun & the Hidden Skies.
The futuristic action thriller The Gift from Carl Erik Rinsch.

This is not the first time Phillips are using the medium to enhance their products - last year Adam Berg and Stink Digital made the awesome Carousel for Phillips. A 2.20 minute short that combines elements of The Matrix, Watchmen and The Dark Knight into a seemingly single gliding long take of mayhem and carnage.


Carousel

Making of Carousel

You can expect interactive trailer to be launched tomorrow Fri 26 February and The 5 Parallel Lines short films will premiere online on 8th April at http://www.cinema.philips.com/ .


Update #1 - 16 March
The Trailer for Parallel Lines is now online.

Update #2 - 20 March
Apparently each of the 5 films, uses the same dialogue. Whoa! This is going to be interesting.



Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines project & Carousel short film

Where
http://www.cinema.philips.com/

When
Thurs 8 April, 2010

Ridley Scott's Robin Hood

The story of how an archer in the service of King Richard the Lionheart became to be known as Robin Hood, the famous archer and outlaw of English Folklore.

Beginning after the Death of King Richard at the Siege of Chalus Chabrol, the film follows Robin on his rise to infamy among the English Barons and the newly crowned King John.

Featuring historically accurate characters such as Sir William Marshall and grounded in reality (in a similar way to Gladiator), this is not Robin Hood as you have seen him before, rather the making of the legend we have come to know him as now.

Expected release date: May 2010