‘Occupy: The Move’ (2013) by Canadian director Corey Ogilvie tells the story about the global social movement known as ‘Occupy’ which began in Wall Street, New York on September 17, 2011. The movement ‘Occupy’ protests the banking system, its control over the people at large and its ability to cripple an entire national (and world) economy when catastrophe hits. While the ‘Occupy’ social movement spread rapid-fire internationally, giving voi...
‘Occupy: The Move’ (2013) by Canadian director Corey Ogilvie tells the story about the global social movement known as ‘Occupy’ which began in Wall Street, New York on September 17, 2011. The movement ‘Occupy’ protests the banking system, its control over the people at large and its ability to cripple an entire national (and world) economy when catastrophe hits. While the ‘Occupy’ social movement spread rapid-fire internationally, giving voi...
Written, directed, produced by Billy Raftery (‘Children Rise’, 2012), ‘Angels in Exile’ (2013) is a documentary of the social disaster of rampant poverty in South Africa. The film focuses on two indigent youths- Zulieka and Ariel- who have grown up in the streets of Durban, South Africa. Billy follows the lives of these two for nearly a decade from glue-sniffing children to young adults. The film is narrated by Charlize Theron.
Recently I interviewed Billy Raftery abou...
Rock the Casbah director Yariv Horowitz - In depth discussion in Berlin on the process of directing, creating and screening his first feature film, a Palestinian Israeli subject film and how the Berlin - German audience reaction.
Winner of the prestigious International Confederation of Art Cinemas award at this year's 2013 Berlin International Film Festival, says making a movie about Israeli soldiers during the first intifada wasn't just cathartic for him. It was catharti...
BREAKFAST WITH BAUER on the set of ‘The Lookalike’ (2013).
In the midst of eating a Craft Service egg-white omelet, actor Steven Bauer (‘Scarface’, 1983; ‘Traffic’, 2000; ‘Breaking Bad’, 2011; ‘Ray Donovan’, 2013) spoke about his experience filming in New Orleans on the set of Australian director Richard Gray’s new film ‘The Lookalike’.
ME: How do you feel being on the set of ‘The Lookalike’&nbs...
Interview with director Cristian Mungiu
Romanian director Cristian Mungiu is a prolific filmmaker with each of his feature films having held premiers at the Cannes Film Festival. His first feature ‘Occident’ (2002) screened in the Directors Fortnight at Cannes. He later won the Palme d’Or for his film ‘Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days’ (2007). His most recent film ‘Beyond the Hills’ (2012) was nominated for the Palme d’Or and won aw...
Aki Kaurismäki is best known for his oeuvre of films including: ‘Leningrad Cowboys Go America’ (1989), ‘The Man Without A Past’ (2002), which ran in competition at Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar in 2002, and his most recent film ‘Le Havre' (2011), which ran in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Recently, I interviewed Aki in Thessaloniki, Greece over cigarettes and the smoke of passing ships as we discussed politics, ...
The international singsong hit ‘The Sapphires’ (2012) held its world premier last year at the 65th Cannes Film Festival and its North American premier at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The film is about a native Australian all-female soul band that travels to Vietnam during the Vietnam War to uplift the morale of the soldiers fighting there, during which time these young talented soul-sisters find greater meaning to their own life and have the time of thei...
Is sex possible after kids? That is the question. Writer/Director/Producer Jeremy Lalonde tackles this very enigma in his latest feature film ‘Sex After Kids’ (2013). The film held its world premier in Santa Barbara last month at the 28th SBIFF. I recently interviewed Jeremy about this titillating romantic sex comedy. Here is what he had to say:
ME: What first inspired you to make this film? Was it based on personal events or people you know?
JEREMY: I knew I want...
Is sex possible after kids? That is the question. Writer/Director/Producer Jeremy Lalonde tackles this very enigma in his latest feature film ‘Sex After Kids’ (2013). The film held its world premier in Santa Barbara last month at the 28th SBIFF. I recently interviewed Jeremy about this titillating romantic sex comedy. Here is what he had to say:
ME: What first inspired you to make this film? Was it based on personal events or people you know?
JEREMY: I knew I want...
Exclusive: Robert De Niro Talks to Quendrith Johnson, Filmfestivals (FR), about Jennifer Lawrence Oscar winner.
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(Footage credit: Screenmancer.tv)
'My Awkward Sexual Adventure' (2012) is a fresh romantic comedy uniquely exploring the complications of intimacy and relationship, an innovative look at the ageless battle of the sexes. Just when I thought I’d seen it all when it comes to romantic (sex) comedies, this one sneaks out of the depths of freezing ‘Winter-peg’ (Winnipeg), Canada, and heats up the screen with love, sex, laughs and tears.
Read my interview with Writer/Producer/Actor Jonas Chernick he...
After an evening spent with Daniel Day-Lewis speaking about his life in acting, inside the Arlington Theater, actress Sally Field presented him the Montecito Award. Interview with Sally Field before she presented actor Daniel Day-Lewis the Montecito Award:
ME: You’ve been acting almost your whole life, and now at this point in your career you get this great role. What would you say about this role that stands out from past ones?
SALLY: I’ve had a lot of wonderful roles. I...
After an evening spent with Daniel Day-Lewis speaking about his life in acting, inside the Arlington Theater, actress Sally Field presented him the Montecito Award. Interview with Sally Field before she presented actor Daniel Day-Lewis the Montecito Award:
ME: You’ve been acting almost your whole life, and now at this point in your career you get this great role. What would you say about this role that stands out from past ones?
SALLY: I’ve had a lot of wonderful roles. I...
Interview with screenwriter David Magee for his adaptation of ‘Life of Pi’.
At the 85th Academy Awards the film won 4 Oscars (more than any other film nominated) including- Best Achievement in Cinematography by Claudio Miranda; Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Original Score Mychael Danna; Best Achievement in Visual Effects by Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer, Donald Elliott; and Best Achievement in Directing by Ang Lee.
Interview wi...
Interview with screenwriter David Magee for his adaptation of ‘Life of Pi’.
At the 85th Academy Awards the film won 4 Oscars (more than any other film nominated) including- Best Achievement in Cinematography by Claudio Miranda; Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Original Score Mychael Danna; Best Achievement in Visual Effects by Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer, Donald Elliott; and Best Achievement in Directing by Ang Lee.
Interview wi...
Denzel Washington plays Whip Whitaker, an alcoholic commercial airline pilot in the Robert Zemeckis directed film; he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor at the 85th Academy Awards.
Read here an interview with quirky comical super talent screenwriter John Gatins of ‘FLIGHT’ (2012), which took place this month at the Lobero Theater at 28th SBIFF.
When asked about the process of 'Flight' emerging from script to screen, Gatins replied:
GATINS: It was a p...
'ARGO' (2013) wins Best Picture at the 85th Academy Awards. First Lady Michelle Obama and Jack Nicholson presented the award. Ben Affleck made a moving speech to his team and his wife.
Recently, Ben Affleck spoke in an evening long interview about his life from 8 year-old child actor to great multi-award winning 'Modern Master' at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara where he bared his soul to moderator Leonard Maltin, proving himself to be a modest and grate...
Recently, Ben Affleck spoke in an evening long interview about his life from 8 year-old child actor to great multi-award winning 'Modern Master' at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara where he bared his soul to moderator Leonard Maltin, proving himself to be a modest and grateful multi-talent who realizes that ‘if there is a master, it’s in partnership’.
LEONARD: When you watch an excerpt from one of your films are you thinking about that day or how you ...
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERCATION WITH THE GREAT KOREAN DIRECTOR, KIM ki Duk, at IIFI , GOA, INDIA
Korea ’s most acclaimed film-maker Kim Ki-duk was the centre of attention, at the International Film Festival of India (IIFI ) in Goa.
While his movies are tough and uncompromising, the film-maker himself turned out to be gentle, gracious, generous, as he warmly greeted his numerous Indian fans, who surrounded him wherever he went, walked around the streets of the...
Writer, Director, Actor Seth Fischer’s film ‘Blumenthal’ (2012) held its North American premier this month at the 28th Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Set in NY, the story starts with the death of playwright Harold Blumenthal (Brian Cox) who dies from a heart attack while laughing at his own joke. His brother, Saul, has a hard time coming to terms with Harold’s death, which results in a domino effect on his immediate family where each of them –Saul, his...
Writer, Director, Actor Seth Fischer’s film ‘Blumenthal’ (2012) held its North American premier this month at the 28th Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Set in NY, the story starts with the death of playwright Harold Blumenthal (Brian Cox) who dies from a heart attack while laughing at his own joke. His brother, Saul, has a hard time coming to terms with Harold’s death, which results in a domino effect on his immediate family where each of them –Saul, his...
Tusi Tamasese's film ‘The Orator’ ('O Le Tulafale', 2011) made film history as the first ever to come from the Samoan Islands. It held its world premier at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in 2011, and most recently screened at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival in the NATIVe - Indigenous Cinema section in 2013.
Saili is a small man with a big heart who lives happily with his beautiful wife Vaaiga and her daughter Litia. Sadly however, t...
Recently the 3D documentary film 'STORM SURFERS' (2012) made its World Premier at the 28th Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The film is about two best friends, surfers Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll, who brave some of the most dangerous of Mother Nature's elements, monstrous waves, in search of Australia's largest and most threatening.
Narrated by Australian actress Toni Collette with stunning cinematography and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this documentary is sure...
Recently the 3D documentary film 'STORM SURFERS' (2012) made its World Premier at the 28th Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The film is about two best friends, surfers Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll, who brave some of the most dangerous of Mother Nature's elements, monstrous waves, in search of Australia's largest and most threatening.
Narrated by Australian actress Toni Collette with stunning cinematography and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this documentary is sure...