Someone Made A Music Video Of My Film WTC VIEW

If you happen to make a movie, these days it can often end up on YouTube with "tribute" videos where people clip their favorite scenes together with a song they like. It helps if you have cute boys in your films too as people have done some videos of my films POOL DAYS and I THINK I DO (now removed by the distributor) featuring cute guys smiling or shirtless. I never thought my post-9/11 drama WTC VIEW would get this sort of treatment. But I was wrong.

Trusty Google Alerts led me to this video with a song about a window as the soundtrack. The song, by a group called Double O Zero, is catchy and appropriate given that the window of Eric's apartment is a central focal point of the film (due to its former view of the World Trade Center).  It's nicely edited by a "Alex O'Dogherty" who has done a bunch of these and features all of my film's smiling and shirtlessness, of course. I often tell people that WTC VIEW is not the film about 9/11 they may expect and this video definitely proves that point!

It almost reminds me of those music videos popular in the 80's where a band would play a song from a big Hollywood movie on a soundstage that would be intercut with scenes from the movie (see ST. ELMO'S FIRE). Except here, there is no band which is too bad. I'm curious to know more about this group and the somewhat mysterious person who put this all together.

New STAR WARS Dream Team Cast Confirmed By Lucas

The culture Vulture at New York Magazine reports today that the storied "dream team" return of Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) are officially set to return in the new Disney STAR WARS sequel scheduled to shoot this year.        

There had been many conflicting rumors of deals and negotiations for months along with hints by the actors themselves. But it wasn't until series creator George Lucas let slip in an interview that they were lined up for the new film that it was somewhat officially confirmed. It makes sense in a way that this had been a done deal a while ago, otherwise why would Disney risk rebooting the series without it's key players on board?  That would have been messy and simply bad movie business to boot.

Anyway, I'm excited to see that they will all be back. I only wonder what has happened to their fictional selves in the intervening 30 plus years since Episode VII. Will there be allusions to Fisher's real life dramas with addiction? Will there be in-jokes about Ford becoming a blockbuster star in his own right?  I do hope that there will be some humor this time out, something that was sorely lacking in the prequels which seemed so disconnected from the fun-loving nature of the first STAR WARS that I loved as a kid esepcially for that reason.  That and all the cool gadgets and spaceships.

Intl. Herald Tribune Gets Name Change, Lives On In BREATHLESS

When I was at the Berlinale Film Festival for the first time in 1998, one of the first things I did in Berlin was buy a copy of the International Herald Tribune. The paper, an European version of the NY Times in English (run by the Times with the assistance of the Washington Post since 1967), is iconic in many ways but especially to me as a filmmaker from it's memorable role in the French New Wave film BREATHLESS. Jean Seberg's character sells the paper in the streets of Paris and her uniquely wan barker's call is burned into my movie memory -- as is that film in general.

There's a piece in today's TIMES about the coming name change for that paper to the International New York Times (happening this fall) which, of course, doesn't quite have the same ring to it.  The article which is in the City Room blog, is fascinating for its mini-history of the NY Herald (for which Herald Sq is named after) and the Tribune (which spawned a sunday supplement which became New York magazine--who knew?).

I love reading about the old papers and how there used to be some many of them until television killed the daily print beast. Now the Internet is trying it's best to knock off what remains. But it's great to read about the way things were and all the different flavors these different papers brought to the coverage of old New York.

The Original BUCK ROGERS Theme Song Had Lyrics

One of my favorites TV shows from way back is BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25th CENTURY. Starring the 70s-sexy Gil Gerard, it was a reboot of a character that had been around in comic books and serials since the 1920s. It ended up on TV as part of the post-STAR WARS push for scifi shows on the major broadcast networks. BUCK was late to the party arriving in the fall of 1979 and lasted only two seasons.

I always amaze people when I tell them the TV series theme song actually had lyrice (sorta the way I LOVE LUCY had lyrics). BUCK's pilot was originally released as a theatrical film in March of 1979 (which I saw when it came out!) and they had an elaborate Bond-esque sequence of Gerard floating around in space with co-star Erin Gray and other buxom space babes. It's a totally cheesy 70s rock pop love song about being frozen in suspended animation while traveling in a 500 year long orbit!

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK!'s "Interjections" Meets STAR WARS

This is my second two-of-my-favorite-things post this week, but I couldn't resist. Someone has done a mashup of STAR WARS clips to the "Interjection" episode of SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK. It's pretty damn funny and a good thing to watch if you're at work on Friday. I found this feature over at Towleroad today and had to share as it just made me smile. Happy Weekend!

Oscar Nominated Doc To Become ABC Miniseries

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, the acclaimed indie doc about the AIDS activism movement of the 1980's and 90's, may have lost at the Oscars (to the feel-good crowd-pleaser SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN) but it's winning in the world of television. The Hollywood Reporter today announced a deal for the feature length movie to be turned into a mini-series saga for ABC. It's surprising news on multiple fronts; not only is the mini-series format returning to network television after a long absence but it will also be telling the remarkable story of AIDS activism and how it lead to the modern LGBT civil rights movement. 

The documentary, produced by my friend and fellow filmmaker Howard Gertler along with director David France, was incredible and  my only critique was that I wanted to know more about these incredible activists. So now that wish will be answered in a major way this with new multi-hour series exploring the characters who made these remarkable changes in the FDA drug approval system and saved the lives of thousands of people infected with HIV. 

There are scant details so far about timing of this series as the show is in development but I look forward to hearing more and seeing it on the "little screen" soon.

Billy Eichner Interviews Pink Up In The Air

I'm a big fan of Billy Eichner and his show BILLY ON THE STREET on Fuse. Now, he's branching out of a bit from his man-on-the-street schtick to do an interview with the fabulous Pink. But since it's Billy, this is no ordinary celebrity sit-down. In fact, the entire interview takes place about 40 feet off the ground as they dangle from harnesses, as Pink likes to do lately. 

Billy consistently cracks Pink up with his odd questions and off-the-wall comments (Kelly Clarkson!). Truly funny stuff--hope to see more of these crazily honest style of interrogations on his show. Or Conan, where he is now a semi-regular as well. 

Doc Up For Oscar Was Shot (And Saved) By An iPhone App

The documentary SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN, which has been nominated for an Academy Award, was partially shot using a $1.99 iPhone app. The story of the film itself is remarkable, about an Detroit singer unknown in the U.S. but wildly popular in South Africa in the 1970s.  The filmmaker, Malik Benjeliou, was originally shooting his b-roll on Super-8 film to get that groovy, 70s vibe. But, like all indie filmmakers, he ran out of money.  Enter the iPhone app called iSuper8 (of course) that recreates the look of that classic stock by shooting with an iPhone. Voila--film saved.

Malik shows exactly how he did it on this piece that ran on CNN last night. It's a very clever move by a filmmaker whose efforts have been rewarded with a trip to the Oscars on Sunday night. Let's hope he shoots some vintage-style footage of the big night on his phone.

After Furor, The AP Stylebook Recognizes Marriage Equality

Last week, the AP caused on online fury when it said that it's Stylebook, which sets the standard for journalism in the US, would not recognize gay marriage. Essentially, they said that the use of the word husband and/or wife were exclusively the domain of heterosexual couples, regardless of whether gay couples were legally married in states where it is now an option. Bloggers went nuts, as did journalism watchdogs, and today the AP relented and, in a statement, made public it's new inclusive entry for husband and wife.

Americablog, which was one of the most critical voices in the discussion, today has some great details on the back and forth of this and the advocacy both inside and outside the company that put on the pressure when this broke last week.  It started out, apparently, as an internal debate which got leaked when some irked AP employees  got the word out. And good thing---because words matter. And the AP Stylebook is the essential for writers/journalists (some of whom are often covering the issue of marriage equality itself).

Despite the initial AP misstep, it's good news in the news room. And for the acceptance of marriage equality as well.

The End of the Oscars...Literally

Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan are known for their big musical productions of films like CHICAGO and, one of my favorites, HAIRSPRAY. This year they are also producing the Oscar telecast and promise to bring a musical touch to the proceedings, with performances by Adele, Shirley Bassey and even Barbra Streisand in her first song at the awards show since 1977. Today's Hollywood Reporter has news of another unusual touch they are adding to the show--an actual ending.

Usually, the telecast ends with the Best Picture statue being handed out as producers thank their wives, God and Harvey Weinstein. But this year they want to utilize their host Seth McFarlane's musical skills and do a big closing number after the big award. It seems they are taking a cue from the Tony broadcast which, in recent years, has ended with Neil Patrick Harris doing a memorable original song that recaps the evenings highs and lows. No words on whether that was the source of their inspiration but, clearly, as Broadway producers themselves, they are surely Tony watchers and attenders. Regardless, it will be a welcome addition to the ceremony instead of the usual rush to the local news.