From the galloping horse to the dancing robotic tools to the passionate embrace of two unfinished lovers, the “Westworld” main title design is a work of beauty. It captures the essence of HBO’s amusement park run amok, re-imagined from the late Michael Crichton. Created by design studio, Elastic, these spectacular titles even surpass last year’s Emmy-winning “The Man in the High Castle.”
The challenge, of course, was doing justice to the sweeping aesthetics and moral tone of the Jonathan Nolan-directed sci-fi/western mashup. “As I learnt more and more about the way the show had been put together, I could see that the bar was going to be high,” said Patrick Clair, Elastic’s creative director. “I loved the design sensibility of the world they were building, and how smart the underlying concepts were.”
Building the Wild West DNA
The early concepts explored the show’s construction...
The challenge, of course, was doing justice to the sweeping aesthetics and moral tone of the Jonathan Nolan-directed sci-fi/western mashup. “As I learnt more and more about the way the show had been put together, I could see that the bar was going to be high,” said Patrick Clair, Elastic’s creative director. “I loved the design sensibility of the world they were building, and how smart the underlying concepts were.”
Building the Wild West DNA
The early concepts explored the show’s construction...
- 6/12/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
When it comes to the awesomeness that was Darth Vader in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it really comes down to the bookends of his appearance. While most folks have spent the last few weeks gushing about the end of his participation in Rogue One's climax, there are also fans who were mesmerized by his first seconds onscreen as well.
If you'll recall, the first time we lay eyes on Vader in Rogue One he's in a sort of vulnerable state that we don't usually think of when imagining the iconic figure in our minds. He's shown as a floating, burned up amputee inside of a Bacta Tank. It was an interesting choice to present the character this way, and in a recent chat with Empire, director Gareth Edwards revealed how that came to be.
"I'm jealous of moments like in Empire Strikes Back where you see the...
If you'll recall, the first time we lay eyes on Vader in Rogue One he's in a sort of vulnerable state that we don't usually think of when imagining the iconic figure in our minds. He's shown as a floating, burned up amputee inside of a Bacta Tank. It was an interesting choice to present the character this way, and in a recent chat with Empire, director Gareth Edwards revealed how that came to be.
"I'm jealous of moments like in Empire Strikes Back where you see the...
- 1/3/2017
- by Mario-Francisco Robles
- LRMonline.com
Two years ago, acclaimed electronic artist Aphex Twin, the stage name for Richard David James, released his first studio album since 2001. The album “Syro” was a critical success, landing on Pitchfork’s top 5 albums of 2014 list and winning a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic album. Since then, Aphex Twin has released two EPs — “Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2” in 2015 and “Cheetah” in 2016 — and will soon play his first show in the United States in over eight years.
Read More: Aphex Twin’s First Music Video In 17 Years Directed By 12-Year-Old YouTuber
To promote that show, Aphex Twin has released a brief video that stars distorted, pitched-up versions of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each spouting talking points. The video also features distorted clips from John Badham’s 1983 film “WarGames” and motifs of nuclear war. The video was created by Weirdcore, who has previously made videos for Radiohead, Tame Impala, Miley Cyrus,...
Read More: Aphex Twin’s First Music Video In 17 Years Directed By 12-Year-Old YouTuber
To promote that show, Aphex Twin has released a brief video that stars distorted, pitched-up versions of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each spouting talking points. The video also features distorted clips from John Badham’s 1983 film “WarGames” and motifs of nuclear war. The video was created by Weirdcore, who has previously made videos for Radiohead, Tame Impala, Miley Cyrus,...
- 11/7/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
While Harmony Korine waits to figure out what movie he makes this year — he’s said it’ll either be “The Trap” or a new “Scarecrow“-esque film he’s been developing — he’s been keeping busy. He set the internet aflame with his sexy video for Rihanna‘s “Needed Me,” all while contemplating releasing his Chris Cunningham collaboration from […]
The post Harmony Korine Directs Gucci Mane In New Ad For Supreme appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Harmony Korine Directs Gucci Mane In New Ad For Supreme appeared first on The Playlist.
- 7/13/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
It’s been over a decade since Richard James released a storied string of Aphex Twin music videos, including the fiendish hip-hop musical extravaganza Windowlicker (directed by Chris Cunningham and embedded below). But, today, a surprise new video dropped from James’ upcoming Ep, Cheetah, and it revisits several classic Aphex Twin tropes — namely, kids and disconcerting James’ masks. In fact, the director is a kid — 12-year-old Ryan Wyer of Rush County, Dublin. Check out “CIRKLON3 [Колхозная mix]” above.
- 6/22/2016
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Iconic electronic artist Aphex Twin, A.K.A. Richard D. James, has been releasing work since the early 1990’s. His most recent album “Syro” was released in 2014, 13 years after his last release “Drukqs.” “Syro” received widespread critical acclaim, winning a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album and placed at number four on Pitchfork’s Top 50 Albums of 2014 list.
Now, Aphex Twin has a new Ep coming out this summer, and he has released his first music video in 17 years to commemorate it, and he got a Irish pre-teen to direct it. 12-year-old Ryan Wyer directed the “CIRKLON3 [ Колхозная mix ]” video, featuring his friends and family dancing around to the song wearing Aphex Twin t-shirts and occasionally wearing the infamous Richard D. James mask (from the cover of the “Richard D. James Album”). Aphex Twin apparently discovered Wyer through his YouTube channel and gave him the opportunity to direct his video. Watch the video below.
Now, Aphex Twin has a new Ep coming out this summer, and he has released his first music video in 17 years to commemorate it, and he got a Irish pre-teen to direct it. 12-year-old Ryan Wyer directed the “CIRKLON3 [ Колхозная mix ]” video, featuring his friends and family dancing around to the song wearing Aphex Twin t-shirts and occasionally wearing the infamous Richard D. James mask (from the cover of the “Richard D. James Album”). Aphex Twin apparently discovered Wyer through his YouTube channel and gave him the opportunity to direct his video. Watch the video below.
- 6/21/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
As we await to see which feature film Harmony Korine shoots this year — he's deciding between "The Trap" and a new, "Scarecrow"-esque picture he's recently written — there's still some stuff in the archives to see the light of day. And one of them may finally surface this year. Read More: Venice Review: Harmony Korine's 'Spring Breakers' Is A Semi-Conventional Genre Flick & Future Cult Favorite Last summer, Korine told Marc Maron about a 20-minute short he made in the early 2000s with acclaimed music video director Chris Cunningham (Björk's "All Is Full Of Love," Aphex Twin's "Windowlicker"). Titled "Mitch Poppins," Korine said it's about a man with Tourette's Syndrome whose tic takes the form of breakdancing, and noted that while it wasn't finished at the time, he was waiting for the moment to release it. And it might soon be arriving. Chatting with The Guardian, he...
- 2/24/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Skrillex‘s much prolonged remix of GTA’s “Red Lips” finally saw an official release this week in the form of a surreal new music video that blends terror and fantasy into an awesome visual accompaniment for the anticipated track. The remix has been heard in live rips and bootlegs over the last year, and fans thirstily awaited the official release.
For the video, Skrillex teamed up with Grant Singer, who previously directed the video for his single “Burial,” as well as The Weeknd’s hit “I Can’t Feel Your Face,” Taking nods from films like The Shining, The Cell, and The Neverending Story, Skrillex’s new video for the “Red Lips” remix features horrifying imagery and fantastical settings, with strange monstrous dancers, cryptic symbolism and elven characters.
Visually, the “Red Lips” video serves as an iconic accompaniment to the remix, following in the vein of directors like Chris Cunningham...
For the video, Skrillex teamed up with Grant Singer, who previously directed the video for his single “Burial,” as well as The Weeknd’s hit “I Can’t Feel Your Face,” Taking nods from films like The Shining, The Cell, and The Neverending Story, Skrillex’s new video for the “Red Lips” remix features horrifying imagery and fantastical settings, with strange monstrous dancers, cryptic symbolism and elven characters.
Visually, the “Red Lips” video serves as an iconic accompaniment to the remix, following in the vein of directors like Chris Cunningham...
- 12/1/2015
- by Connor Jones
- We Got This Covered
One Little Indian Records
Bjork has consistently proven herself to be one of the most innovative, interesting voices in modern music. She has a distinct style that has influenced countless artists such as Kanye West, Fka Twigs, Lady Gaga, and Death Grips. And yet, she is still able to stand apart from those she has influenced due to a stylistic reinvention with every successive album. Her records contain her own unmistakable narratives that can each stand alone without building upon each other lyrically or musically.
She can be pointed to as the impetus for the trip hop movement of the 90s, as well as bringing electronic artists such as Aphex Twin into the public consciousness. As much as she is a creator, she is also a curator. Directors such as Michel Gondry, Chris Cunningham, and Spike Jonze have all worked with Bjork at some point in their careers, often creating...
Bjork has consistently proven herself to be one of the most innovative, interesting voices in modern music. She has a distinct style that has influenced countless artists such as Kanye West, Fka Twigs, Lady Gaga, and Death Grips. And yet, she is still able to stand apart from those she has influenced due to a stylistic reinvention with every successive album. Her records contain her own unmistakable narratives that can each stand alone without building upon each other lyrically or musically.
She can be pointed to as the impetus for the trip hop movement of the 90s, as well as bringing electronic artists such as Aphex Twin into the public consciousness. As much as she is a creator, she is also a curator. Directors such as Michel Gondry, Chris Cunningham, and Spike Jonze have all worked with Bjork at some point in their careers, often creating...
- 8/20/2015
- by Steve Beres
- Obsessed with Film
Entertainment Geekly is a weekly column that examines pop culture through a geek lens and simultaneously examines contemporary geek culture through a pop lens. So many lenses!
Should we start with the music videos? Does anyone in college or younger understand why music videos were important? There was a significant portion of the ’90s spent agonizing over how cinema would be forever altered by the onrushing influx of young-turk hotshot music-video auteurs, and the quick-cut glitter-grit really-just-too-much style they brought along.
Now it’s 2014 and music videos are dead, unless you’re a bygone spiffy-clean tween star nakedly straddling a spheroid metaphor.
Should we start with the music videos? Does anyone in college or younger understand why music videos were important? There was a significant portion of the ’90s spent agonizing over how cinema would be forever altered by the onrushing influx of young-turk hotshot music-video auteurs, and the quick-cut glitter-grit really-just-too-much style they brought along.
Now it’s 2014 and music videos are dead, unless you’re a bygone spiffy-clean tween star nakedly straddling a spheroid metaphor.
- 4/10/2014
- by Darren Franich
- EW.com - PopWatch
Today marks the return of L.A. rockers Warpaint with their sophomore self-titled album, a ten-song blend of slinky, bass-driven jams, and it’s certainly been long-awaited—their first record of came out in 2010. That same year also held the last music video work from the deliciously twisted British director Chris Cunningham (“New York Is Killing Me” by Gil-Scott Heron), but thankfully he’s stepped back into the spotlight as well, by crafting a documentary and music video combo surrounding Warpaint and their new tunes. The creative mind behind videos such as Aphex Twin’s “Come To Daddy,” Portishead’s “Only You,” and “Sheena is a Parasite” by The Horrors, Cunningham is a director remarkably consistent in giving each project that he tackles a unique spin. For his work with Warpaint, he spent over two years with the band—comprised of founding trio Emily Kokal, Theresa Wayman, and Jenny Lee Lindberg—as they wrote,...
- 1/21/2014
- by Charlie Schmidlin
- The Playlist
Sometimes in creative pursuits, it helps to have a friend who can be honest about the work you're putting out. And for Spike Jonze, he's got a circle of colleagues and pals in his mobile that alone would make for one helluva dinner party. Charlie Kaufman, David Fincher, Catherine Keener, Chris Cunningham, Nicole Holofcener, Miranda July and Bennett Miller are among the confederates Jonze is lucky enough to be able to bounce ideas off of, but it was another friend in particular who helped the director find the final shape of his upcoming film "Her." Jonze's fourth feature is the first he's written on his own, and when it came to cutting the movie, he had a more difficult time than in the past at getting a sense of what he could leave on the cutting room floor and what was essential to keep. And so he turned to Steven Soderbergh for some help.
- 10/7/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Stars: Michael Smiley, Julian Barratt, Reece Shearsmith, Peter Ferdinando, Ryan Pope, Sara Dee, Richard Glover | Written by Ben Wheatley, Amy Jump | Directed by Ben Wheatley
A Field In England, prolific low-budget and lo-fi filmmaker Ben Wheatley’s latest effort, continues the original and highly distinctive work he’s made thus far but pushes past boundaries and expectations to create a brilliantly psychotic burst of filmmaking which feels like it’s ventured forth from a parallel universe version of the 1960s.
With a budget of £300,000 and a shoot lasting 12 days, it’s rather incredible the finished film feels so perfectly polished but helped some fantastic cinematography from Laurie Rose and great sound design and music by Martin Pavey and Jim Williams respectively, the film takes top hold of the throat from the off with the sounds of war invading the soundscape and percussive score belying the budget and evoking filly the...
A Field In England, prolific low-budget and lo-fi filmmaker Ben Wheatley’s latest effort, continues the original and highly distinctive work he’s made thus far but pushes past boundaries and expectations to create a brilliantly psychotic burst of filmmaking which feels like it’s ventured forth from a parallel universe version of the 1960s.
With a budget of £300,000 and a shoot lasting 12 days, it’s rather incredible the finished film feels so perfectly polished but helped some fantastic cinematography from Laurie Rose and great sound design and music by Martin Pavey and Jim Williams respectively, the film takes top hold of the throat from the off with the sounds of war invading the soundscape and percussive score belying the budget and evoking filly the...
- 7/2/2013
- by Ian Loring
- Nerdly
Kanye West, Daft Punk and Chris Cunningham. A collaboration between those three would be mightily cool indeed and it looks like it might just happen. Daft Punk are currently busy promoting their upcoming album Random Access Memories ahead of its release next month and they've been discussing working with Kanye again after the rapper previously sampled them on his track "Stronger." However, the collaboration apparently won't appear on Random Access Memories, but rather on Kanye's next record, which he has started teasing in recent concert appearances. Adding to this circle of cool, Michel Gondry spoke to Rolling Stone and told them what he knew about the material they'd recorded. Reportedly, the long-time friend of Daft Punk met up with Kanye recently, who played him two songs he worked on with the electronic duo, and here's what he had to say about them. "One of them, I told him it sounded...
- 4/15/2013
- by Joe Cunningham
- The Playlist
The mighty Boston Underground Film Festival celebrates their impressive 15th edition this year on March 27-31 at the Brattle Theatre. Here’s some highlights to be on the lookout for:
Opening night film: I Declare War, a childhood parable about war and brutality, directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson.
Closing night film: Big Ass Spider!, a raucous giant arachnid vs. the military flick, directed by Mike Mendez.
Other Feature Films: Both Drew Tobia’s first feature, See You Next Tuesday; and the punk documentary A Band Called Death by Mark Christopher Covino and Jeff Howlett recently won awards at the 20th Chicago Underground Film Festival and will now kill it at Buff. Sion Sono, a Buff regular, will be screening the last of his “Trilogy of Hate,” Guilty of Romance; while Calvin Lee Reeder has the gross-out feature-length version of his gross-out short The Rambler. And Zach Clark, a Bad Lit favorite,...
Opening night film: I Declare War, a childhood parable about war and brutality, directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson.
Closing night film: Big Ass Spider!, a raucous giant arachnid vs. the military flick, directed by Mike Mendez.
Other Feature Films: Both Drew Tobia’s first feature, See You Next Tuesday; and the punk documentary A Band Called Death by Mark Christopher Covino and Jeff Howlett recently won awards at the 20th Chicago Underground Film Festival and will now kill it at Buff. Sion Sono, a Buff regular, will be screening the last of his “Trilogy of Hate,” Guilty of Romance; while Calvin Lee Reeder has the gross-out feature-length version of his gross-out short The Rambler. And Zach Clark, a Bad Lit favorite,...
- 3/27/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
In theaters now is Citadel, the new thriller by writer/director Ciaran Foy. The film tells the story of a young man who becomes inflicted with agoraphobia and must take care of his infant daughter after the brutal murder of his wife by a gang of hoodlums. When he finds out that the attacks occurring in his housing project may not be isolated incidents he seeks the help of a nurse and a deranged priest to put an end to the evil plaguing his neighborhood. The film stars Aneurin Barnard (Hunky Dory, Ironclad), James Cosmo (Braveheart, Trainspotting), and Wunmi Mosaku (Womb, I Am Slave).
I recently had a chance to sit down with Ciaran Foy and talk about his new film, Citadel. He discussed the brutal real-life event that inspired the film, dealing with agoraphobia, the filmmakers that inspired him, and his love for soundtracks.
Here’s what the talented...
I recently had a chance to sit down with Ciaran Foy and talk about his new film, Citadel. He discussed the brutal real-life event that inspired the film, dealing with agoraphobia, the filmmakers that inspired him, and his love for soundtracks.
Here’s what the talented...
- 11/21/2012
- by Dana Gardner
- LRMonline.com
Residents of the Shadsworth estate are protesting at their portrayal in a documentary that follows a well-worn path
A minor watershed might have been reached when, earlier this year, Southwark council banned the use of two of its estates by film crews. The local tenants' association, frustrated by the area's depiction in everything from the vigilante thriller Harry Brown to Channel 4 idents as a post-apocalyptic graveyard bestrewn with litter and feral youth, finally put its foot down.
The association's chair pointed out that "over time, it was the same subjects being used". Drugs, violence, general "antisocial behaviour", all no longer have one of their readymade concrete backdrops. The estates in question, Aylesbury and Heygate, had become especially sexily dilapidated after many residents were removed to make way for a seemingly infinitely postponed redevelopment programme. It's surely a matter of time before other tenants' associations follow suit, and enforce restrictions...
A minor watershed might have been reached when, earlier this year, Southwark council banned the use of two of its estates by film crews. The local tenants' association, frustrated by the area's depiction in everything from the vigilante thriller Harry Brown to Channel 4 idents as a post-apocalyptic graveyard bestrewn with litter and feral youth, finally put its foot down.
The association's chair pointed out that "over time, it was the same subjects being used". Drugs, violence, general "antisocial behaviour", all no longer have one of their readymade concrete backdrops. The estates in question, Aylesbury and Heygate, had become especially sexily dilapidated after many residents were removed to make way for a seemingly infinitely postponed redevelopment programme. It's surely a matter of time before other tenants' associations follow suit, and enforce restrictions...
- 9/13/2012
- by Owen Hatherley
- The Guardian - Film News
The filmed works of David Fincher aren't limited to the cinema. In fact, Fincher has made more music videos and commercials than he has movies and today I've decided to highlight a selection of Fincher's music videos from those that will have you nodding your head saying, "Yup, that looks like something Fincher would have directed," and others that will have you saying, "What? Really? The guy that made Zodiac, Seven and Fight Club made that?" I did my best to find a few quotes for some of the videos, a few facts on others and I can also suggest you look for the likes of Djimon Hounsou in Madonna's "Express Yourself" and Paula Abdul's "Straight Up", Christopher Walken in Madonna's "Bad Girl" and you can also find supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford in the video for George Michael's "Freedom!
- 12/19/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Why is the video director for Cheryl Cole and Klaxons filming people dancing when drunk?
If you were making a reality show called The Only Way is Shoreditch, you would want to have aimed your camera at an innocuous white booth in Hoxton Square last month. Surrounded by the standard gaggle of east London hipsters, the luminous box, an interactive art installation by Saam Farahmand, became a scenester magnet over the course of two days.
A former Goldsmiths fine art graduate, Farahmand, at 32, is considered one of the most talented music video directors of his generation. According to Creative Review, with his "experimental approach and technical brilliance, you always know you're going to get something special".
So how do his videos come about? "Normally, you pitch to a [record] label and they choose the best one. I just work directly with artists now – but don't put that! It sounds arrogant." Farahmand...
If you were making a reality show called The Only Way is Shoreditch, you would want to have aimed your camera at an innocuous white booth in Hoxton Square last month. Surrounded by the standard gaggle of east London hipsters, the luminous box, an interactive art installation by Saam Farahmand, became a scenester magnet over the course of two days.
A former Goldsmiths fine art graduate, Farahmand, at 32, is considered one of the most talented music video directors of his generation. According to Creative Review, with his "experimental approach and technical brilliance, you always know you're going to get something special".
So how do his videos come about? "Normally, you pitch to a [record] label and they choose the best one. I just work directly with artists now – but don't put that! It sounds arrogant." Farahmand...
- 11/22/2011
- by Nosheen Iqbal
- The Guardian - Film News
Fuel VFX have announced the appointment of Ben Eagleton as Head of Colour.
Eagleton said: “I’m very excited to be back in Australia and to have joined the team at Fuel. I’ve been impressed with the work they have been doing in recent years, and now look forward to contributing to Fuel’s slate of projects.”
Andrew Hellen, Fuel VFX Managing Director said: “We’re extremely pleased to welcome Ben to the Fuel family. He’s a true artist and colour space is something we’re very passionate about. We’re looking forward to adding Ben’s talent and experience to Fuel’s projects.”
The appointment has Eagleton return to Australia after two years in New York.
After emigrating from London where he had been working at Rushes post house, Eagleton worked as Senior Colourist at The Lab before opening Bean in Sydney in 2007.
Bean was acquired by Tag Worldwide,...
Eagleton said: “I’m very excited to be back in Australia and to have joined the team at Fuel. I’ve been impressed with the work they have been doing in recent years, and now look forward to contributing to Fuel’s slate of projects.”
Andrew Hellen, Fuel VFX Managing Director said: “We’re extremely pleased to welcome Ben to the Fuel family. He’s a true artist and colour space is something we’re very passionate about. We’re looking forward to adding Ben’s talent and experience to Fuel’s projects.”
The appointment has Eagleton return to Australia after two years in New York.
After emigrating from London where he had been working at Rushes post house, Eagleton worked as Senior Colourist at The Lab before opening Bean in Sydney in 2007.
Bean was acquired by Tag Worldwide,...
- 11/2/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Richard Ayoade’s debut film Submarine, is in cinemas this Friday. To celebrate the release we’ve got our hands on x2 posters signed by the cast of Submarine and x2 sets of classic Optimum Releasing DVDs which include:
* Eagle vs Shark
* Dead Man’s Shoes
* Bunny and the Bull
To be with the chance of winning, simply answer the following question:
Who directed Submarine?
a) Richard Ayoade
b) Chris Cunningham
c) Spike Jonze
Producers Warp Films (This Is England, Four Lions) and director Richard Ayoade (The It Crowd) present a comedy which follows a 15-year old boy with two objectives: to lose his virginity to the girl of his dreams before his next birthday, and to stop his mother (Sally Hawkins) from leaving his father and hooking up with a new age mystic (Paddy Considine). Featuring original songs by Alex Turner and executive produced by Ben Stiller.
Submarine is...
* Eagle vs Shark
* Dead Man’s Shoes
* Bunny and the Bull
To be with the chance of winning, simply answer the following question:
Who directed Submarine?
a) Richard Ayoade
b) Chris Cunningham
c) Spike Jonze
Producers Warp Films (This Is England, Four Lions) and director Richard Ayoade (The It Crowd) present a comedy which follows a 15-year old boy with two objectives: to lose his virginity to the girl of his dreams before his next birthday, and to stop his mother (Sally Hawkins) from leaving his father and hooking up with a new age mystic (Paddy Considine). Featuring original songs by Alex Turner and executive produced by Ben Stiller.
Submarine is...
- 3/26/2011
- by Kat
- Nerdly
[1] While it's not that unusual for big-name directors to do commercial work on the side, there seems to be something about fragrance ads in particular that really draws them in. ("Bucketloads of money" is definitely part of it.) A new ad for the Miss Dior Cherie fragrance has premiered online, directed by Sofia Coppola and starring "brand ambassador" Natalie Portman. It looks like typical perfume ad stuff, with Portman lounging around attractively and making out with Tetro star Alden Ehrenreich and generally acting in a manner that only a person in a fragrance commercial would act -- but it is pretty. Watch it after the jump. [via ThePlaylist [2]] Love or hate her, there's no denying Coppola has an eye for beauty. With Portman as her subject and Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin's "Je T'aime Moi Non Plus" as her soundtrack, there was no way this ad was going to be anything but gorgeous.
- 2/22/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Forget Michel Gondry. Forget Spike Jonze. Meet Chris Cunningham. He’s the Brit music-vid genius behind some of the most stunningly dark promos ever made. Cunningham’s astonishing work for Björk, Madonna and – most famously – Aphex Twin has had Hollywood chasing him for years. “I’ve been sent everything from Catch Me If You Can to 28 Days Later to Terminator 3,” the director tells Total Film in a rare interview. “It’s not that I turn stuff down, I just never read any scripts. I’m only...
.
.
- 11/8/2010
- by Total Film
- TotalFilm
I have definitely hit a high in my blogger career getting a chance to catch up with inspirational filmmakers but right now Gareth Edwards takes the cake. The young upcoming filmmaker has garnered tons of attention due to his technically acclaimed thriller, Monsters, which explores a duo of travelers braving an infected zone inhabited by alien creatures from a Nasa probe crash.
In both our reviews on FusedFilm, we praised Edwards’ proficiency in making such a great looking movie while acting as director, writer, cinematographer, producer and special effects designer. Now you can get better acquainted to the filmmaker and his thoughts on the future of filmmaking, his next project with Timur Bekmembetov, and finally some interesting insights into Monsters ranging from – a funny story on the set to why he chose the design of his creatures the way he did.
Edwards is truly a character and embodies a true...
In both our reviews on FusedFilm, we praised Edwards’ proficiency in making such a great looking movie while acting as director, writer, cinematographer, producer and special effects designer. Now you can get better acquainted to the filmmaker and his thoughts on the future of filmmaking, his next project with Timur Bekmembetov, and finally some interesting insights into Monsters ranging from – a funny story on the set to why he chose the design of his creatures the way he did.
Edwards is truly a character and embodies a true...
- 10/28/2010
- by Kevin Coll
- FusedFilm
When satire overcomes it’s welcome. I’m all for comical attempts at trumping the idiotic mannerisms of the Hip-Hop community of limited language, as the film closes with the lines, “The disrespect, the dishonor of our most valuable resource, the black woman.”
The piece teeters on both sides of comedy and just mockery, and the inital set up runs a bit too long. The opening go-between of the two men drags on, go on for what seems like 4-5 minutes, even though when the actual music video is barely 4.
Directed by music video wiz kind Chris Cunningham.
The piece teeters on both sides of comedy and just mockery, and the inital set up runs a bit too long. The opening go-between of the two men drags on, go on for what seems like 4-5 minutes, even though when the actual music video is barely 4.
Directed by music video wiz kind Chris Cunningham.
- 9/24/2010
- by Tony
- ShadowAndAct
What's cool about Pitchfork's best 50 videos countdown from the 90's are seeing how some of the least obvious names cut their teeth on music videos -- some became full fledged members of the filmmaking community, while some are still in the cross over stages. What is most odd about the list is how Chris Cunningham, who along with Spike Jonze (see Weezer video below) and Michel Gondry dominated the music video scene, never made the jump into feature film. While you've got Jonathan Glazer, Mike Mills and Mark Romanek with more than one mention, and together, Jonze and Gondry are mentioned a dozen times, I've decided to point out those who have made a feature film among the 50 list. Check them out after the jump - Yo La Tengo: "Sugarcube" Phil Morrison blasted onto the scene with indie gem Junebug, but hasn't made anything since. Blur: "Coffee + TV" Garth Jennings...
- 8/24/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Frank Miller, the comic book creator turned "Sin City" codirector, has a new ad for Gucci Guilty -- starring Evan Rachel Wood, Chris Evans, the music of Friendly Fires and a greenscreen -- that's apparently so momentous that it warranted its own trailer. Presumably there'll be a longer cut of the ad due out as well, because the official version released today isn't any longer than that teaser, a mix of stylized sex, stilettos and driving while on fire.
While describing a film as looking like a perfume ad is rarely intended as a complement, it's not unheard of for a notable perfume ad to look like a film. High-end fragrance commercials have a habit of handing over a chunk of change to an established director and turning them loose to do their thing. And the results can be interesting, someone's auteurist signature compressed into something as concentrated as, well,...
While describing a film as looking like a perfume ad is rarely intended as a complement, it's not unheard of for a notable perfume ad to look like a film. High-end fragrance commercials have a habit of handing over a chunk of change to an established director and turning them loose to do their thing. And the results can be interesting, someone's auteurist signature compressed into something as concentrated as, well,...
- 8/24/2010
- by Alison Willmore
- ifc.com
Vincenzo Natali thinks not – and the director who gave us the cult sci-fi brainteaser Cube is determined to prove it
"If it can be imagined, it can be filmed," is a quote often attributed to Stanley Kubrick. In recent years, film-makers have proved him both right and wrong. Last year, I felt Zack Snyder made a more than decent bash of bringing the dense and multi-stranded Watchmen to the big screen, while in the past decade we've even seen The Lord of the Rings, once considered too long and flowery for Hollywood, turned into a blockbuster trilogy by Peter Jackson. On the other hand, critical reaction to Tom Tykwer's 2006 adaptation of the decidedly unfilmic Perfume: The Story of a Murderer was pretty mixed, and neither Joseph Strick's 1967 attempt, nor Sean Walsh's Bloom in 2004 really got under the skin of James Joyce's Ulysses, surely the ultimate unfilmable novel.
"If it can be imagined, it can be filmed," is a quote often attributed to Stanley Kubrick. In recent years, film-makers have proved him both right and wrong. Last year, I felt Zack Snyder made a more than decent bash of bringing the dense and multi-stranded Watchmen to the big screen, while in the past decade we've even seen The Lord of the Rings, once considered too long and flowery for Hollywood, turned into a blockbuster trilogy by Peter Jackson. On the other hand, critical reaction to Tom Tykwer's 2006 adaptation of the decidedly unfilmic Perfume: The Story of a Murderer was pretty mixed, and neither Joseph Strick's 1967 attempt, nor Sean Walsh's Bloom in 2004 really got under the skin of James Joyce's Ulysses, surely the ultimate unfilmable novel.
- 5/14/2010
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Eleonora Granata-Jenkinson, Los Angeles' film community's favorite Italian, long known and respected for her extensive and impressive knowledge of the film market in the Us and abroad has been named by the Italian company FilmMaster to direct their new Los Angeles office. Americans met Eleonora Granata first when she handled acquisitions at Rai and later as Sr. VP of Production at Pandora Cinema. In L.A. she was VP of Acquisitions at Turner Pictures, later the Venice Biennale's Los Angeles representative. She has continued consulting in acquisitions and programming, and the entire film business commnunity in L.A. congratulates her on this move.
FilmMaster, one of the world’s most prestigious production companies and the top production company in Italy, will be more available to its American clientele who have increasingly turned to FilmMaster in recent years for production services in Italy.
FilmMaster’s CEO Ada Bonvini explained: “In recent years,...
FilmMaster, one of the world’s most prestigious production companies and the top production company in Italy, will be more available to its American clientele who have increasingly turned to FilmMaster in recent years for production services in Italy.
FilmMaster’s CEO Ada Bonvini explained: “In recent years,...
- 5/6/2010
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
Chris Cunningham has suggested that he is tired of making music videos and adverts. The cult filmmaker found fame for promo clips for Aphex Twin's 'Windowlicker' and Bjork's 'All Is Full Of Love' and also directed adverts for Gucci, the Sony PlayStation and others. He told The Observer: "Making commercials is the dustbin of filmmaking. It sucks you dry." Of his upcoming audiovisual shows, he said: "It's a work in progress really. It's three (more)...
- 4/19/2010
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
Chris Cunningham, On tour
A science fiction-informed imagination, coupled with a mastery of modern manipulation techniques, help create Chris Cunningham's startling, unforgettable images, as seen most famously in videos by Björk and Aphex Twin. Having garnered an avid fanbase, the director can step comfortably into the sometime role of music producer (the Horrors) and performance artist. This live show, presented across multiple screens to a soundtrack of his own compositions and remixes, features new and unseen video work edited with reworked favourites.
Dome, Brighton, Mon; Manchester Opera House, Thu; Royal Festival Hall, SE1, Fri
Marc Rowlands
London Burlesque Week
If seamed stockings, feather boas and nipple tassels are your thing, you'd better kiss this week goodbye, as this celebration of the art of tease and erotic dance brings together almost every burlesque performer on the planet. From a speakeasy-style affair at Proud Cabaret to elaborate costume balls, it features the new hopefuls,...
A science fiction-informed imagination, coupled with a mastery of modern manipulation techniques, help create Chris Cunningham's startling, unforgettable images, as seen most famously in videos by Björk and Aphex Twin. Having garnered an avid fanbase, the director can step comfortably into the sometime role of music producer (the Horrors) and performance artist. This live show, presented across multiple screens to a soundtrack of his own compositions and remixes, features new and unseen video work edited with reworked favourites.
Dome, Brighton, Mon; Manchester Opera House, Thu; Royal Festival Hall, SE1, Fri
Marc Rowlands
London Burlesque Week
If seamed stockings, feather boas and nipple tassels are your thing, you'd better kiss this week goodbye, as this celebration of the art of tease and erotic dance brings together almost every burlesque performer on the planet. From a speakeasy-style affair at Proud Cabaret to elaborate costume balls, it features the new hopefuls,...
- 4/16/2010
- by Iain Aitch, Marc Rowlands
- The Guardian - Film News
Researchers identify command servers behind Google attack.
VeriSign's iDefense security lab has published a report with technical details about the recent cyberattack that hit Google and over 30 other companies. The iDefense researchers traced the attack back to its origin and also identified the command-and-control servers that were used to manage the malware.
The cyber-assault came to light on Tuesday when Google disclosed to the public that the Gmail Web service was targeted in a highly-organized attack in late December. Google said that the intrusion attempt originated from China and was executed with the goal of obtaining information about political dissidents, but the company declined to speculate about the identity of the perpetrator. Citing sources in the defense contracting and intelligence consulting community, the iDefense report unambiguously declares that the Chinese government was, in fact, behind the effort. The report also says that the malicious code was deployed in Pdf files...
VeriSign's iDefense security lab has published a report with technical details about the recent cyberattack that hit Google and over 30 other companies. The iDefense researchers traced the attack back to its origin and also identified the command-and-control servers that were used to manage the malware.
The cyber-assault came to light on Tuesday when Google disclosed to the public that the Gmail Web service was targeted in a highly-organized attack in late December. Google said that the intrusion attempt originated from China and was executed with the goal of obtaining information about political dissidents, but the company declined to speculate about the identity of the perpetrator. Citing sources in the defense contracting and intelligence consulting community, the iDefense report unambiguously declares that the Chinese government was, in fact, behind the effort. The report also says that the malicious code was deployed in Pdf files...
- 1/28/2010
- Arizona Reporter
Disclaimer: please forgive my deplorable, albeit thoroughly intended, misquotation from The Royal Teens seminal 1958 release, 'Short Shorts'. A while back I promised you another special selection from the mystical and capricious world of short films. I'm quite sure you have all been logging in every evening, with twitching fingers, in the hope that I have finally provided another volume of filmic vignettes and music videos; and crashing backwards with a heavy sigh when you realise that no such post has been created. Well sigh no more my enthusiastic readers... for volume II has arrived: Music Videos: Florence + The Machine: The Ganzfeld Procedure Dir: Keith McCarthy / UK / 2009 BBC Electric Proms, in partnership with 6Music, commissioned this New Music Short. Filmmakers were asked to submit creative ideas for short films inspired by Florence + The Machine's 'Dog Days Are Over'. Selected from over 225 entries, Keith worked with producers at Colonel Blimp to create this sporadic,...
- 12/4/2009
- by Nicholas Deigman
- t5m.com
"Saw VI" opens today and will no doubt rule the box office this weekend. Since the first film premiered in 2004, the "Saw" series has become an annual Halloween tradition and has gone from a simple forum for Rube Goldberg-esque death devices to a complicated web of mythology and character twists surrounding the killer known as Jigsaw.
The films do a few things correctly, as some of the kills are entertaining and they all have a delightfully filthy tone to them. But let's face it: They're not scary. Sure, "Saw VI" will provide the requisite amount of gore, but will there be any tension or terror? Unlikely.
In fact, rather than plunk down your 10 bucks to shrug your way through another kill-fest, you'd be better off working your way through some of the scariest, creepiest music videos ever created. These clips — from Nine Inch Nails' terrifying "Closer" to Interpol's twitchy,...
The films do a few things correctly, as some of the kills are entertaining and they all have a delightfully filthy tone to them. But let's face it: They're not scary. Sure, "Saw VI" will provide the requisite amount of gore, but will there be any tension or terror? Unlikely.
In fact, rather than plunk down your 10 bucks to shrug your way through another kill-fest, you'd be better off working your way through some of the scariest, creepiest music videos ever created. These clips — from Nine Inch Nails' terrifying "Closer" to Interpol's twitchy,...
- 10/23/2009
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
Update: IndieWire has a (non-embeddable) one-minute clip from the film. Appropriately, it depicts trash humping. Safe to say that anyone not convinced by the trailer will be much less so after the clip. Original article follows. I thought I was familiar enough with Harmony Korine's methods and images that I'd never really be taken aback by him again. But when the first images came out from Trash Humpers my reaction was basically, "holy Christ, what is this?" Now that there is a trailer, my reaction is still more or less, "holy Christ, what the hell is this?" Granted, my second, more measured reaction to the images from the new film, a feature running a brief 78 minutes, was that the film looks like Korine's own version of a Chris Cunningham movie. This trailer only reinforces that brief assumption. We knew the project had a low-fi video look, and Korine has...
- 9/10/2009
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
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