by Paul Costello What does a cinematographer actually do? What are they responsible for? Where do they stop and the director begin? Honestly, there can be a few answers to those questions, depending on the type of production being staged. A studio product with good budgets and big crews will tend to have a more defined hierarchy and specified roles, whilst a small independent feature or documentary may have more flexibility in who does what. In instances of the latter examples, we can look at the likes of Robert Rodriguez’s almost one-man army approach on El Mariachi or Nick Broomfield’s multi-headed director/producer/writer/interviewer/sound recorder stance on something like Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer. by Paul Costello William Shakespeare. Poet, dramatist, arguably the greatest writer in the English language, and most certainly the hardest working screenwriter currently working in Hollywood, despite the rather notable handicap of being dead for almost 400 years. And today at I'm With Geek we celebrate the life and work of Shakespeare in a multitude of ways. My own humble contribution to this celebration is to shine a light on three separate performances of a single Shakespearean speech, specifically the St. Crispin’s Day speech from Henry V (Act IV, Scene III). by Paul Costello In the world of horror cinema, there are two names that tower above the rest in terms of film production. One is Universal, the oldest film studio in the US and probably the single most famous company associated with the horror genre. Here in the UK, we have the other big name: Hammer. Perhaps the most successful and prolific production company ever in the UK, Hammer Films has, over the years, become not only synonymous with the horror genre, but with a distinct brand of horror. Sophisticated, even quaint, and yet increasingly rather camp, the horror films of Hammer boasted an aesthetic that was instantly recognisable to audiences and set it apart from its US contemporaries. Without Hammer, the face of both the UK film industry and horror itself would be a vastly different landscape. But what of its history and development? How did this relatively unassuming production house that started in a few rooms in a London office suite become one of the most respected names in the horror cinema? Let’s take a look back over the years and see how it all started. by Paul Costello There was a time that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were just two young actors trying to make their way in the tough game of Hollywood. Sure, they got work here and there (Damon picking up small supporting roles in School Ties and Courage Under Fire; Affleck in Dazed and Confused, Mallrats and Chasing Amy), but they still weren’t swinging much higher than other young actors at the same time. Then they wrote a script called Good Will Hunting, which launched the pair of them instantly to stardom and Academy Award-winner status. And, like Chayefsky’s script for Network, Good Will Hunting is not afraid of a good monologue. by Paul Costello The horror genre hath many doors to let an audience explore what frightens them. Ghouls, ghosts, monsters, masked killers and possessed dolls are merely the tip of the iceberg of what can go bump in the night, but the world of the psychological horror plays a different game with its prey. This is not to say that such a genre can’t utilise the justifiably scary visage of an eerie apparition or blade-wielding maniac, but this is not where psychological horror makes its mark. As the name would suggest, it relies on a greater sense of trickery, of foreboding, of an atmosphere of unending dread that worms its way into the minds of the characters onscreen and, if successful, those watching, too. The human psyche knows the best ways to scare people. by Paul Costello Here’s a project that should certainly hold some degree of sway over the numerous basement-dwellers and shut-ins that ever mis-spent their youth in their local rental stores and movie theatres, and who now frequent the Internet as writers, critics and journalists… hi there! by Paul Costello and Leah Stone Voted the number one comedy on numerous polls, beating the likes of Monty Python and Tootsie. For many, Airplane! is THE comedy movies, combining satire, word play and slapstick in an altogether hilarious way. For others, the movie is simply jarring like sitting with someone on a ten hour flight as they recall their depressing life history.... Leah and Paul are on both sides as they vie for your votes! So are you for or against Airplane!? |
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Keep up to speed with the latest news from the world of cinema Must See Movies - A list of independent films we are looking forward too! Movie Monologues - Paul Costello counts down the best speeches in cinematic history every Thursday. Movies In Motion - Jo Johnstone explores the world of stop-motion animation from adverts to features every last Friday of the month. Experiment 626 - Our writers exchanged DVDs and here are the results We'll Fix it in Post - Graham Osborne gives us the run down on how certain movies could be improved. The Horror Vault - The dark side of cinema You May Have Missed - Movies that passed you by. From The Trenches - Matthew Howe delights with stories from the front line! Hidden Heroes - Celebrating those incredible people often in the shadows of cinema Terribrill - So bad they are actually good! Straight On Till Morning - Leah looks at the impact of childhood films Monthly Musical Moment - Taking a look at the best soundtracks and music moments Film FriendsCategories
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