Los Angeles Times Festival of Books...Jamie Lee Curtis & Rainn Wilson on stage today! Bookworms descend on USC!

 

Jada Pinkett Smith @ Festival of Books!

A few weeks ago, I posted a feature on the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, which is an annual event book-lovers look forward to with great anticipation each year.


Post: 04/06/2011

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2011/04/los-angles-times-festival-of-booksrainn.html
Fortunately, school children from Orange County tweeted me this week, which jogged my memory at the 11th Hour.

Yes, kids!

You will see me at  Book Fair tomorrow strolling around USC campus with my eye out for bargains and news scoops to report on at "The Tattler".

Thanks for the reminder, eh?

For readers at "The Tattler" who may have forgotten that the event runs today (April 30th) thru Sunday (May 1st), I have posted a run-down of the panel discussions and stage events that will be underway as this very post is published on the world-wide-web a few seconds from now.

See 'ya there, eh?

Target Children’s Stage

10:00 AM

The Okee Dokee Brothers
Take it Outside

10:40 AM

Bob Boyle
Author of Hugo and the Really Really Really Long String

11:00 AM

Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop

11:20 AM

Jamie Lee Curtis
Author of My Mommy Hung the Moon

11:45 AM

Hip Hop Harry
Party Jams

12:20 PM

Tom Lichtenheld
Illustrator of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site

12:40 PM

Peter Stein
Author of Cars Galore!

1:00 PM

Dallas Clayton
Author and Illustrator of An Awesome Book!

1:25 PM

Disney Junior’s Choo-Choo Soul with Genevive
Choo-Choo Soul

2:00 PM

Marc Brown
Author of Arthur Turns Green

2:20 PM

Nancy Krulik
Author of George Brown, Class Clown: Super Burp #1
Katie Kazoo Switcheroo Series

2:40 PM

R.L. Stine
Author of Goosebumps Horrorland: Hall of Horrors

3:00 PM

Megan McDonald
Author of Judy Moody and Stink series

3:25 PM

Moona Luna
Piñata Party

4:00 PM

Lisa Yee
Author of American Girl Book,Aloha, Kanani

4:20 PM

Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Author and Illustrator of The Lunch Lady Graphic Novel Series

4:40 PM

Josh Lewis
Author of Super Chicken Nugget Boy
(vs. Ned-Grant and his Eggplant Army)

5:10 PM

Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players
Jungle Gym

Los Angeles Times Stage

11:00 AM

Rainn Wilson
Interviewed by Amy Alkon
Author of SoulPancake

12:10 AM

Stefanie Powers
Author of One from the Hart

1:20 PM

Jillian Michaels
Interviewed by Rene Lynch
Author of Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life

2:30 PM

Danica McKellar
Author of Hot X: Algebra Exposed

3:40 PM

Alison Arngrim
Author of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch

4:50 PM

Sister Souljah
Interviewed by Jada Pinkett Smith
Author of Midnight and the Meaning of Love

USC Stage

10:00 AM

Festival Kickoff with the Trojan Marching Band
Musical Performance
Welcome by Los Angeles Times Publisher Eddy Hartenstein
USC President C.L. Max Nikias

11:40 PM

Funny But True Hosted by Prince Gomolvilas
Storytelling-Based Performance

12:50 PM

Greg Johnson Quartet
Jazz Performance

2:00 PM

Javon Johnson
Spoken Word Performance

3:10 PM

Rozzi Crane
Popular Music Performance

4:20 PM

Second Nature Improv
Comedic Performance

5:30 PM

Bear Attack
Popular Music Performance

Cooking Stage

11:00 AM

Erin McKenna
Author of BabyCakes Covers the Classics
Cooking Demonstration

12:30 PM

Graham Kerr
Author of Growing at the Speed of Life
Cooking Demonstration

2:00 PM

Bob Blumer
Author of Glutton for Pleasure
Cooking Demonstration

3:30 PM

Laurie David & Kristin Uhrenholdt
Authors of The Family Dinner
Cooking Demonstration

YA Stage

11:00 AM

Brave NewWorlds: Writing the Unreal
Panelists:
Andrew Smith, Allyson Condie, Laura McNeal, Tom McNeal
Moderator:
Aaron Hartzler

12:30 PM

Smells Like Teen Spirit: Young Adult Fiction
Panelists:
Lisi Harrison, Joanna Philbin, Elizabeth Eulberg, Abby McDonald
Moderator:
Aaron Hartzler

2:00 PM

The Practical & the Powerful: Writing Fantasy or Keeping it Real
Panelists:
Robin Benway, Gayle Forman, Gennifer Choldenko, Allen Zadoff
Moderator:
Cecil Castellucci

3:30 PM

Picture This: Graphic Novels
Panelists:
Kazu Kibuishi, Tracy White, Deborah Vankin
Moderator:
Aaron Hartzler

5:00 PM

LAYAPALOOZA!
A live game show for:
Lovers of books for teens & tweens

Poetry Stage

10:00 A.M.

Rick Bursky & Majid Naficy read from:
Death Obscura and Father & Son

10:30 AM

Chase Twichell reads from:
Horses Where the Answers Should Have Been

11:00 AM

Daniel Tiffany reads from:
Privado and The Dandelion Clock

11:30 AM

Annie Finch reads from:
Among the Goddesses: An Epic Libretto in Seven Dreams

12:00 PM

Terese Svoboda reads from Weapons Grade

12:30 PM

Amy Newlove Schroeder & Dorothy Barresi read from:
The Sleep Hotel and American Fanatics

1:00 PM

Beckian Goldberg & Sarah Maclay read from:
Reliquary Fever: New and Selected Poems and Music for the Black Room

1:30 PM

Dana Levin reads from Sky Burial

2:00 PM

Henri Cole reads from:
Pierce the Skin: Selected Poems (1982—2007)

2:30 PM

Ed Roberson reads from:
To See the Earth Before the End of the World

3:00 PM

Craig Santos Perez reads from:
From Unincorporated Territory {Saina}

3:30 PM

Carol Muske-Dukes Hosts Various Poets reading from:
Crossing State Lines: An American Renga

4:00 PM

Laure-Anne Bosselaar reads from A New Hunger

4:30 PM

Atsuro Riley reads from Romey’s Order

5:00 PM

Ellyn Maybe and Her Band perform from:
Rodeo for the Sheepish and Other Works

Etc. Stage

10:00 AM

826LA
Student Author Panel:
A reading, discussion and signing with students ages 6-18

11:00 AM

Dime Stories
Three-minute stories read by Various Artists

12:00 PM

Imagine Ireland
A selection of non-fiction writers from:
Ireland by Molly McCloskey and Brian Dillon

1:00 PM

Murphy’s Flaw
Blue Grass Musical Performance

2:00 PM

Brand X LA Unheard Presents Young Hunting
Musical Performance

3:00 PM

The Hero Complex Presents Quizzam! Hosted by Geoff Boucher
Comics Trivia Contest

3:30 PM

Andrew Breitbart in Conversation with Robin Abcarian
PANEL CODE: 1092
Interviewer:
Ms. Robin Abcarian

4:00 PM

Zack Cole
Musical Performance

5:00 PM

PEN Center USA
Emerging Voices Reading

Discover the World

11:00 AM

Irish Writers Sara Berkeley and Peter Sirr

Poetry Readings

12:00 PM

Korea Presents Ji Yoon Jay Lee Byung Sang
Traditional Korean Musical Performance

1:00 PM

Israel Presents:
“Israel in Los Angeles A bond between communities”
Video Presentation

2:00 PM

Irish Writers Mary O’Donoghue and Kevin Power
Fiction Readings

3:00 PM

Korea Presents Kim Eung Hwa Dance Academy
Traditional Korean Dance Performance

4:00 PM

Los Angeles Times Presents Don Bartletti
My Camera as Witness to a Non-Fiction World

Hoy Stage

10:00 AM

Welcoming Celebration

11:00 AM

STAR Program
Dance Performance

12:00 PM

Mariachi Cielo Nuevo
Musical Performance

1:00 PM

Hoy Spanish Spelling Bee Finals
Category 1

2:00 PM

Salt Petal
Musical Performance

3:00 PM

A Vivir Bien
Panel Discussion

4:00 PM

Rock STAR
Musical Performance

http://www.latimes.com/festivalofbooks.com

http://www.thetattler.biz

0 comments

Librarians...not all sweetness & light! LA TIMES article lacked ethics in journalism!

Nasty Librarians preside over computer lab at Riordan showpiece!

I chortled out loud when I read the article in today's LA Times which blamed the "homeless" for disrupting the otherwise serene environs of a handful of the local libraries in LA LA LAND.

Granted, a few of the hapless individuals referred to have distinctive offensive body odors - and the desperate are inclined to haul their worldly possessions into the hallowed halls of the world of catalogued literature - for want of a place to stow 'em.

For the most part, though, the outcry is unfounded - an unjust promulgation by a posse of snotty library personnel who are too ignorant to fathom (make intelligent sense of) the root of the problem.

In the films of yesteryear (one old classic - "The Music Man" - springs to mind) librarians were oft singled out - as a handful of classy women - who epitomized all that was sweetness and light!

The old hags who preside over the City-run premises - in this era - leave a lot to be desired in the personality department (for starters).

In fact, a couple of the Latino staff - short, fat, crawling with nasty eruptions on the skin (who haughtily preside over the computer lab in the downtown Library with an old evil-eye in all directions) - give credence to critics' arguments that the so-called "caretakers" should never be granted too much power in respect to the decision-making process (especially when it comes to determining who is entitled to avail themselves of the services therein).

Indeed!

To become a full-fledged librarian an individual is required to painstakingly toil over books and earn a degree or two.

And, if the system had its druthers - also be required to display a modicum of personality, wit, knowledge of literature, semblance of intelligence (even a tad bit of charm) - you name it!

However, the losers at the libraries in town - who boast a GED or a course or two at the local community college (egads, what a joke!) - fall short in that regard quite honestly.

Hands down, Mr. Mayor!

In fact, it shocks the sensibilities.

Most of the losers I am referring to are under the mistaken impression that because they hold down a job on the counter (or at a lowly desk next to the loo) that they have the right to be called a bona fide custodian of books!

Go figure.

From my experience (based on an occasion-or-two when I have trekked in to the Beverly Hills Library or the fancy-schmancey facility in Santa Monica to seek assistance at the desk) few, if any, appear to be overly anxious to get off their fat butts and offer up any worthwhile assistance to the patrons!

And, that is the crux of the problem, really.

As the old saying goes:

"There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians!"

Due to budget constraints, libraries are currently being forced to limit services - and, in some cases - close their doors a day or two a week to make ends meet.

Part of the reason for the "financial crunch" is obvious to anyone with half-a-brain or an ounce of reasoning power.

Let's face the ugly truth!

The library is overstaffed with low-life employees - "lay-abouts" - and "do-nothings".

The City should turf out half-of these jerk-offs and demand that the remaining few on payroll earn their salaries!

Shame on the Los Angeles Times for its lack of fairness and ethics in journalism - and the eyebrow-raising report on a set of distorted circumstances - they have concluded has reeked havoc of late at the local libraries.

For those who missed the misguided poorly-written article?

It was a one-sided account of things  - penned by a reporter - who didn't even bother to interview any of the individuals (the homeless) cited as the disruptive force that now threatens a once-sacred refuge of the past:

The Public library!

Nuff said!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

Marian the Librarian
(The Music Man)

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Golden Globe Awards...LA TIMES critics take swipe at nominations!

 

Tilda Swinton snubbed!

The morning daily was awash today with stinging criticisms in the wake of yesterday's stunning reveal of the nominations for the Golden Globe 2010 calendar year!

Personally, I was surprised by a couple of the nods - and downright baffled over one or two of the obvious stinkers - as well.

A nomination for the just-released "Tourist" - in the hilarious category of  the "Best Musical or Comedy" - caused a bevy of critics to shake their heads in total disbelief.

The misstep appeared to hint that no one at the Foreign Press screened the flick before voting!

Or, just maybe, this was the organization's way of taking a sly poke at the so-called suspense thriller, which failed to meet the criteria of the genre by a whole nine yards?

One reviewer joked that nominations for a handful of unworthy star performers - magnetic Angelina Jolie and ever-popular Johnny Depp, for instance - was a deceitful efffort to ensure that the red-carpet ceremony was packed to the rafters with mega-stars in a bid for a ratings boost on January 16th when the much-anticipated event is broadcast.

A popularity contest?

You betcha!

What?

No nods for - Tilton Swinton (I am Love), Robert Duvall (Get Low), Barbara Hershey (Black Swan), or Mark Ruffalo (The Kids are Alright) - eh?

A "True Grit" shut-out (Coen Brothers) caused a storm of controversy to swirl in show-biz circles throughout the day yesterday in Hollywood (and elsewhere).

Is their taste up their wazoo, or what?

Normally, the Golden Globes are a percursor to Oscar wins, but armchair nay-sayers are predicting that this year there will be a big departure in that regard.

Fans of Clint Eastwood (Hereafter) were taken aback at his snub; after all, over the years the HFPA has always warmed up to his skills at the helm (he has been nominated on five occasions in past competitions).

When the subject turned to comedies, per se, the Foreign Press was accused of being - well - foreign!

Reviewers at the LA Times concluded that the panel of voters at HFPA didn't understand particular brands of comedy.

"They don't get American humor."

The big winners?

The Fighter (a well-received Mark Wahlberg project) and The Social Network (Facebook tell-all) each racked up 6 nominations head-in-head.

Even so, it's hard to disagree with an assessment by Time's writer Betsy Sharkey.

"Serious crimes were commmitted!"

You bet your sweet bippy, Betsy!

"Off with their heads!"

http://www.thetattler.biz

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LA TIMES Actor's panel...Carey Mulligan, Jesse Eisenberg & Andrew Garfield bare souls!

Filmgoers anxiously queued up in front of the historic Egyptian Theatre last night to nab a coveted seat at a panel discussion which focused on the behind-the-scenes underbelly of Hollywood - and bask in the reflected glow of three of their favorite young stars - Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Jesse Eisenberg who are currently skyrocketing to success in the film biz.

Despite shoddy production glitches - typical of the incompetent and unprofessional AFI Fest staff who organized the event - excited guests were hopeful that they were in for an entertaining night once the way was paved.

Indeed!

The festivities got off to a bumpy start as Amy Kaufman - the nervous host who covers the youth beat for the LA TIMES - struggled to get her bearings before the packed house.

It was quite evident from the get-go that Ms. Kaufman was a tad inexperienced - too green, to put it succinctly - to handle the task at hand.

But, the special event - in true show biz tradition - went on nonetheless despite a few ugly burps and distracting hiccups that stalled the proceedings now-and-then.

For example, guests were forced to endure a few awkward moments when the three celebrated guests trotted up to the podium, and were at a loss to fathom where to sit.

Obviously, the hapless actors needed a bit of direction in that regard.

Meanwhile, the AFI staff stood around slack-jawed, clueless about what action to take to rectify the embarrassing ongoing problems.

Once the panel discussion got underway, for instance, technical problems threatened to spoil the evening as well.

Microphones failed, film clips washed out on the wide-screen in an unprofessional fashion, you name it.

At times, guests were forced to strain forward in their seats in a bold-faced effort to hear the ongoing dialogue just out-of-reach on the cement floor below the wide screen, where the acoustics were definitely lousy to begin without amplification.

There was quite a bit of incoherent mumbling going on for the first ten minutes or so until the event finally found its legs and delivered up.

The audience was quite forgiving, so the event sailed on pretty smoothly, once the technical oversights resolved about a quarter-of-the-way into the panel discussion.

Carey Mulligan was the the most poised and professional of the three performers.

The lads tended to hum-and-haw a lot - even stumble for words on occasion - when the searing glare of the spotlight was tossed on them.

Andrew Garfield was probably the most intriguing guest of all.

Quite often - he waxed poetically (rambled on incoherently, too) - as he struggled to utter up witty responses to a handful of Kaufman's potentially-revealing queries.

It had not escaped his attention that pressures may derail his peace of mind in the near future - when he embarks on his next project - in which he portrays "Spiderman" (in a role Toby McGuire took on which ended up totally defining the character to audience satisfaction).

He joked that he'd be that guy in the audience lamenting the casting choice.

'Oh, shit! Who hired that English fool to play spidey," he blurted our at one point, to a roar of approval from the audience.

Garfield was probably the most insecure actor, of the three on the hot seat, too.

He worried about the way his eyebrows looked, what fans might think of his walk, that sort-of-thing.

The English actor had no problem knocking the profession - and actors, in particular - either.

"Actors hang out in a sandbox. Live in a dream world. And, they make so much money. It's criminal, really," he protested, in so many words.

But, he was inclined to confess, there was a moment in a stage production in England when he had a revelation about art and truth that set things right in his questioning mind.

"Deep," Andy Kaufman kidded in a knee-jerk reaction to the actor's obvious over-blown sense of self-importance and worth as a B-list talent kicking around the fringes of the Hollywood scene.

Occasionally, he was spontaneous, and funny.

When Kaufman asked how the three actors broke into the business - wondered if they had connections and all that - Garfield's lightning response was delightful.

"I come from the Garfield dynasty of actors. My father was a spear carrier - third on the left - in a successful Shakespearean production," he coughed up dead-pan.

Actually, through-out the revealing interview, he displayed a rather droll sense of humor.

Carey Mulligan insisted that she was terrified whenever she was forced to appear on the red carpet.

"I found it is helpful to have a Martini before-hand," she giggled.

I agree, baby!

"Or, take along friends and family, with the aim of seeing the hoopla from their perspective," she added as an afterthought.

"My brother went wild over the cops handling security at the Oscars. He hung out the window, totally blown away by their big guns," she confided.

The audiences were particularly fascinated with the two male actors since both just appeared in the phenomenally successful film bio on the founder of FaceBook (The Social Network).

I reviewed the film a few weeks ago.

Post:  10/01/10

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2010/10/social-networkfacebook-nerd-revenge.html

"I met people who knew Mark. They'd pass on information like - 'he had a weak handshake' - and that sort-of-thing," Eisenberg quipped gleefully.

But, for the most part, the fresh face in the industry was inclined to go along with the character fleshed out for the screen by the talented insightful script-writer on the project.

One actor noted that his cousin landed a job at FaceBook towards the end of the shoot, and ended up in the enviable position of being able to disclose some curious secrets kept under wraps until recently.

For instance, aalthough  Zuckerberg initially stated to the press that he was not going to screen the film, the actor's relative noted that the founder of FaceBook actually rented a movie theatre one day and treated the staff to a private screening of the controversial flick.

"Later, he took them out for Apple Teas, in a cheeky response to a scene where it was alleged that was the popular drink consumed by staffers running the social hub at the time," he snickered.

Also, Zuckerberg made a point of telling the cousin that he thought the actor who portrayed him in the film bio, did a good job.

However, the actor accused that it was a clever public relations ploy, on the part of Zuckerberg.

"He was trying to be diplomatic to my cousin," he summed up smugly.

When Kaufman referred to Zuckerberg as the "contested founder", by the way, he was adamant that  - "no" - his character (Zuckerberg) was a founder (among a handful of visionaries who contributed to the initial success of the popular web site).

Surprisingly, Carey Mulligan fessed up that she had a weird relationship with Michael Douglas on the set of Wall Street.

"We were quite distant," she confided.

After some prodding by Kaufman, Ms. Mulligan noted that the production was not too different than earlier independent films she worked on, in many respects.

"The food was better at craft service, though. And, the crew was larger since we were working in NYC.  But, the shooting schedule was just eleven weeks."

The pretty English actress got her first break when she attended an "open call" audition for "Pride & Prejudice" for a small role.

"I snagged it," she noted with glee.

The actress admitted that press reports alleging that she took the bus in Los Angeles when she moved here, and stayed at a Best Western Hotel, were true.

But, a slightly harrowing event at a bus stop, changed all that one day.

"I was standing there waiting for the Metro when a car - with blacked-out windows - glided up and pulled to a stop. The side window rolled down, and a man inside pointed a gun at me. Then, he laughed wickedly, just before tearing off down the street."

Welcome to Los Angeles, Carey!

All three performers admitted what appears to be a common fear among actors.

"I didn't work for a year after the Wall Street shoot. I didn't know if I would ever work again," Mulligan fessed up.

By the way, I loved her acting in the Michael Douglas vehicle, and raved about her in my review.

Post:  10/01/10

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2010/10/wall-streetoliver-stone-atheist-michael.html

Technical snafus aside, the night end up a real charmer, in my opinion.

I predict these three - provided they get over their insecurities, unfounded fears and phobias - will go far in the film biz.

Break a leg, kids!

http://www.thetattler.biz

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Toy Story 3...Director Lee Unkrich & Actor Jeff Garlin appear @ LA TIMES Screening! Envelope, please!

 

"My favorite scene in Toy 3 was the one with the baby sitting on the swing staring up at the moon," actor Jeff Garlin guffawed loudly to the attentive audience - who subsequently - roared back in approval.

"You had to wonder what the baby was thinking! Unbelievable. Anyone who was going to include a shot like that in their movie was someone I wanted to work with," he blurted out, somewhat incredulously.

After noting that the actor was a bit "wonky", John Horn - an LA TIMES writer (acting as a monitor for the LA TIMES "Envelope" event) - proceeded to usher in questions about the creative process at Pixar studios - and the difficulties (if any) - in delivering up the third segment of the highly-touted successful franchise series.

"When confronted with the task, did film titles like - Godfather 3, Matrix 3, and Spiderman 3 - cross your mind," Horn comically quizzed the director - Lee Unkrich - in so many words.

"Yes, if I screwed up, I thought I might be run out-of-town with pitch forks. It was sort-of fear-based filmmaking," he chuckled in jest.

An anticipated release date (June / 2010) was announced - and that didn't help matters much either - the articulate director confessed to the rapt audience - who sat dazzled on-the-edge of their seats at the annual screening event (which acts as a precursor to the Oscar nods) .

"We put the pressures aside as much as possible, but the problem was always omnipresent."

The first review was tepid, and threw him for a loop, according to the lone actor on the panel at the insightful Q & A session at the Landmark Theatre in West Los Angeles after the screen credits crawled to a close.

In fact, Garlin chided the young auteur for reading the critique.

"The film was out. There was nothing you could do about it. Why bother?"

Shortly after TOY 2 was released, the original idea for the sequel was hatched up, but Unkrich was keen on taking a vacation first.

Then, the project got stalled because of contractual snafus with Disney and Pixar.

So, TOY STORY 3 languished on the back burner for a few years, until Disney purchased Pixar - and the block on a green light for production - was finally lifted.

Once the project was underway, the main creative forces behind TOY STORY 3 - the director (Lee Unkrich), the scriptwriter (Michael Arndt ) and the producer (Darla Anderson) - trotted off to Northern California to a retreat known as the Poet's Loft to hammer out the skeletal frame for the proposed script for the full-length feature.

Within a half-a-day, it was pretty much a given, that the first premise for the much-anticipated project lacked luster.

So, it was scrapped.

In a group process - all the creative spirits locked heads in regular bull sessions (the talented three were all in attendance at the screening last night to the delight of the film buffs) so that the dynamics could be worked out and solutions to the existing logistical problems resolved.

The sessions sounded like brawls, at times.

"It wasn't for the faint of heart," Anderson fessed up.

After the first meeting - the team unanimously recognized that advancing the story forward - was the best way to go in the instant scenario.

"Usually there is an overture first, Then, the action starts up - at which point - the characters are introduced," Unkrich stated matter-of-fact.

The problem, in this instant case, stood out like a sore thumb.

How were they going to introduce all the old toy characters?

With that in mind, the winsome three-some drummed up the idea that ended up on the screen, after a lot of painstaking toiling on the schematics.

Uh-huh!

There were 60 drafts.

At this juncture - the scenes, once written - were drafted on reels.

Then, each was submitted to the director, for feedback.

The screenwriter (Little Miss Sunshine) joked that - on most live action films - the writing process was kind-of-like being alone in the forest at night.

"You can hear the wolves all around," he kidded.

The soft-spoken phrase-maker underscored, however, that he - as a rule - preferred to shape and hone the script first before sharing the material with the director, producer, and studio brass.

But - Darla Anderson was so protective of the creative environment - that he had a sort-of Epiphany one day.

"I realized I didn't have to worry about when to step on the gas or slam on the brakes."

"Producers have the crappiest job," Garlin piped up.

"Producing is an art," Darla shot back.

According to the insightful producer, it was her role to sit back, and keep track of the whole picture.

There was a lot of trust in the ongoing creative relationships, too, that accounted for the success of TOY STORY 3 at the box office.

"I've read a lot of scripts over the years. They're not all bad, just not finished," Unkrich argued.

As is the case with an actor developing a character, an idea for a script needs to be fleshed out.

"It's all garbage, at first."

A perfect example may have been "Good Will Hunting".

Affleck and Damon both confided in interviews after they won the Oscar - that the award-winning script - also featured a sub-plot about spies that just never gelled.

It wasn't until that material was ferreted out, that the script became a viable working one, that was worth producing.

With TOY STORY 3 - there was also the issue of production values to consider - in light of advancing software technologies which had been developed since TOY STORY 1 first hit the silver screen.

"Toy Story 1 was originally created on DOS," Garland joked!

Because of phenomenal advances in technology, there was a definite need to scrap the original toy story images, and rework them in the latest state-of-the-art rich mediums so they would be relevant in today's highly competitive film marketplace.

"In the old days, it was difficult to create organic images of fur and water," the director acknowledged.

In TOY 3, Woody - for instance - got a makeover.

"But, he didn't end up looking like bad plastic surgery had been performed," Unkridge chuckled.

In the final analysis, the creative team agreed that today anything - "dreamed up" - could be created on film.

"It might be difficult, but it can be done."

At this point, the focus shifted to the actors, when John Horn quizzed Garland about "when he came in" to the picture on the project.

"When they let me," he belly-laughed.

The actor has an infectious quality to his personality that triggers a spontaneous natural response from the audience and puts them at ease.

"To play a character known as - Buttercup - was so cool," he gushed.

At this juncture, the hefty thespian underscored how difficult it was playing an animated part, compared to other roles in regular mediums.

"Tom Hanks asked me which was more difficult - and I told him - the animated work."

He explained that being alone in a room, replaying the scenes over and over again, was tough.

"I thought that all the reshoots were going to be for behind-the-scenes out-takes on a DVD," he fessed up.

Wrong!

The animators used this footage to get a take on his mannerisms and to better develop the feel of his character.

Garland compared part of the process to the distinctive ones used by Chaplin and Keaton.

"You do it over and over again. See what happens. Keep the good things, toss out the bad."

The amused director butted in at this point and admitted that all the material was tested with an audience.

"If it got a laugh, it stayed."

If not, it got the old heave-ho, on the other hand.

Needless to say, Unkridge also acknowledged that when the plaudits come in after the release, it was so life-affirming.

Indeed!

And, why not?

TOY STORY 3 is a charming, entertaining animated feature- that is wholesome and insightful - with wide appeal across the demographics.

At times, the storyline tended to trigger memories of my own childhood, and my own favorite toy!

A film can't be half-bad, when it manages to achieve that moment of nostalgia, for a ticket-holder.

In fact, at the close of the film, I don't expect there was a dry eye in the house, either.

Heart-warming!

Come Oscar time, the nominations will be racking up, deservedly so.





http://www.thetattler.biz/

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The Envelope...screening series! James Franco, Winona Ryder & Natalie Portman to appear!

Once again, the much-anticipated film screening series - The Envelope - is slated to kick-off at the Landmark Theatre in West Los Angeles (CA).

The high-profile red-carpet-style event - sponsored by the Los Angeles Times - is scheduled to run November thru December.

At press time it was announced that - James Franco (127 Hours), Winona Ryder (Black Swan) & Natalie Portman (Black Swan) - have committed to appear at the popular Q & A sessions to follow the screenings (which I expect will play to packed houses).

Director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy are expected to put in appearances as well much to the delight of theatre-going fans.

Last year, I attended the thought-provoking film presentation, and was fortunate to sneak peak a handful of top-notch flicks (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Hurt Locker, Crazy Heart, District 9, and Young Victoria)  before their wide release later in the year.

Entertaining interviews with Jeff Bridges, T-Bone Burnett, Kathryn Bigelowr, and Jeremy Renner were thoroughly enriching moments which I captured in posts in the days that followed.

Post: 12/04/09  (Young Victoria)

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/12/young-victoria-duchess-of-york-julian.html

Post:  12/02/09 (Crazy Heart)

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/12/jeff-bridgesrobert-duvall-maggie.html

Post:  11/19/09 (Hurt Locker)

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/11/hurt-lockerintense-flawed-film-director.html

Post:  11/09/09 (District 9)

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/11/hurt-lockerintense-flawed-film-director.html

The feature film line-up this year is just as dynamic and exciting as last year's phenomenal success.

The Envelope
Feature Film Screenings
Q & A

Toy Story  3 (Pixar)
November 3
7:30 pm
Q & A
Director Lee Unkrich
Producer Darla K. Anderson
Writer Michael Arndt
Actor Jeff Garlin

Moderator John Horn
Los Angeles Times
127 Hours (Fox Searchlight)
November 4
7:30pm
Q & A
Actor James Franco
Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy.

Moderator John Horn
Los Angeles Times

Another Year (Sony Pictures Classic)
November 15
7:30 pm
Q & A
Actors Lesley Manville & Jim Broadbent

Moderator Mark Olsen
Los Angeles Times

Black Swan (Fox Searchlight)
November 16
 7:30 pm
Q & A
Director Darren Aronofsky
Producer Scott Franklin
Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey &  Winona Ryder.

Moderated by Steve Zeitchik
Los Angeles Times

Ticket Info:

http://www.latimes.com/extras/events/envelopescreeningseries/

http://www.thetattler.biz

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Hurt Locker & District 9...DVD releases! Films worth catching by the homefires...

For film buffs who prefer to chug-a-lug a brewskie and rustle up amply-buttered  popcorn at home - as they settle in for a DVD adventure between the sheets or by a crackling fire - there is good news!

A bevy of feature films - in a myriad of genres - have been released this week on DVD.

A handful, listed below - are not only fresh out of the movie theatres - but snapped up prestigious film awards around the country in recent weeks (Golden Globes, New York Film Critics, LA Film Critics).

I'm giving the nod to the following offerings to spring the hard-earned cash on:

District 9

A Sci-Fi thriller (Directed by Neill BlomKamp) with some imaginative high-tech ideas.

Special effects are spectacular and the film moves along at a fast clip with believable dialogue and characterizations that are well-fleshed out.

Review:  11/09/09

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/11/district-9slick-sci-fi-thriller-falls.html

Inglourious Basterds

Quentin Tarrantino's big budget Brad Pitt starrer knocked me out.

Here, Tarrantino establishes that he can play with the big boys in Hollywood, though he'd prefer to go the off-beat route and implant his own individual style along the way.

Pitt is surprisingly good in this long but entertaining film.

A bit of violence may have audiences turning away from the screen for a moment or two.

Review: 08/22/09

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/08/inglourious-basterdsalmost-genius.html

The Hurt Locker:

A flawed piece of work about highly-specialized bomb squads in Iraq (directed by Kathryn Bigelow aka former Mrs. James Cameron who has won directing kudos for this project).

A gritty thought-provoking film with a stellar soundtrack and top-notch acting by all the players.

Review:   11/19/2009

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/11/hurt-lockerintense-flawed-film-director.html

http://www.julianayrs.com

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Young Victoria ...Duchess of York & writer Julian Fellowes wow rapt filmgoers @ screening! Exquisite 4 star screen bio captivates...

A buzz circulated around the theatre on the heels of a rumor - that the Duchess of York was slated to attend the Q & A - once the credits rolled at the end of the screening of  "Young Victoria".

A few naysayers were adamant that it certainly could not be so!

"I didn't see any security," one snotty bottle-blond huffed in a seat behind me.

"I don't think so."

Party pooper!

After all, I had it on good authority (the usher confirmed it!) that the flaming red-haired freckled-beauty, was expected to trot out to bask in the glow a tad.

But, for those unfamiliar with the production notes, the notion was obviously an absurd one.

Truth of the matter is - Sarah Ferguson  (formerly the Duchess of Pork - um - York) - hatched the idea for the big-screen biopic which focuses solely on the early days of Queen Victoria's reign (and her subsequent proposal of marriage to handsome cousin Albert from across the English Channel).

"We're all familiar with the image of the elderly Victoria in her black mourning clothes," Fergie (dare I refer to the former Royal so casually in passing?) noted somewhat poignantly to the rapt filmgoers hanging on every succinct (effervescent) word.

One day - as Ferguson was hunkered down in the very quarters at Buckingham Palace where Victoria wiled away many an hour away from her subjects - it hit her like a bolt of lightning.

A film about Victoria's youth might just change the dreary grey image forevermore.

So - a treatment was lovingly pieced together as a sort-of tribute to the celebrated Monarch - who still holds the prestigious honor of being the longest-reigning Queen in England's history.

Eventually, the project ended up in the lap of Julian Fellowes, which ended up being an auspicious turning-point for the mother of two skirting the outer fringes of Tinseltown in a breathy-search for backers.

When an interviewer from the LA TIMES (on behalf of the "Envelope" series currently in full swing) probed a bit about the integrity of the material, Ms. Ferguson didn't hesitate to point a finger at one producer who intended to sensationalize the material (to the Royal Family's detriment).

"He was going to shoot a scene of Victoria in bed with one of the Lords," she lamented, to all within earshot.

That's show biz, ducky!

Altough the germ of the idea sprang from Ferguson's own creative vision - and painstaking research on the Queen Victoria (and the Royals in general)  - she downplayed her role in a humorous fashion last night.

"I was just a chick in the henhouse," she giggled, as her earthy-side (which often got her knickers caught in a twist with the Queen Mom) surfaced a smidgen out-of-control and reared its gutsy head.

There was an awkward silence for a sec - at which point - it dawned on Ferguson that perhaps she misspoke.

"Well, maybe a wolf in the henhouse."

Indeed, the sometimes-author of children's books, had no qualms admitting it was tenacity - and bit of the old spit-and-shove - that got the production into high gear eventually.

In fact, the Queen's cast-off daughter-in-law (black sheep of the family, dudes!)  was such a formidable public relations spokesperson for the project that it tended to force hands.

For example, when Ferguson was invited to attend the screeing of  DEPARTED, a soon as Julian Fellowes spied her strident approach in his direction, he stopped her dead in her tracks from afar.

"Yes, Fergie. We're going to shoot that picture," he hollered across the crowded causeway.

The sets and costumes are lush - exquisite - in fact; surprising, when you consider that there were budget constraints.

"How did you land those locations," the interviewer quizzed the Duchess excitedly.

"Did you have to ask the Queen for permission?"

"Well, yes. Usually, that is required," she chided tongue-in-cheek.

"When I got divorced from the Queen's handsomest son, I did the right thing and remained friends. After all, I really admire her (Elizabeth II).  Also, she is the grandmother of my children," she noted in so many words.

Almost in an aside, the spunky spirited dish, noted (somewhat reluctantly) that several of the fabulous castles and country estates the production team facilitated for the shoot were owned personally by a handful of her friends.

As the Divine Diva - Bettle Midler - would warble:

"You've got to have friends."

On that note, it should be pointed out that Fergie remains friends with her ex-husband (Prince Andrew).

As to "Young Victoria", well, I was so entralled (and caught up in every mesmerizing moment) that I lost track of all time in the plush theatre environs last evening. 

In fact, when it was apparent the film was winding down, I was taken aback.

Indignant!

What - it's over - so soon?

For many, this will be one of those rare screen adventures,  filmgoers would prefer to never end.

The acting, for starters, was simply superb.

And, all the elements sure to guarantee a blockbuster success, were up there on the silver screen, too: witty, fast-paced dialogue, touches of high drama interspered with side-splitting humorous interludes, gorgeous sweeping vistas of turn-of-the century England, a fascinating storyline filled with wonder and intrigue, and - above all - and a delicious love story sure to break out the soft kleenex and bon bons from the get-go.

4 Stars!

Congrats, Duchie.

http://www.julianayrs.com

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Jeff Bridges...Robert Duvall & actress Maggie Gyllenhaal @ Crazy Heart screening. LA Times Envelope offering sure-fire hit...

There were a few technical glitches, a candid moment or two, and surprises in store for theatre-goers who attended the Los Angeles Times "Envelope" screening of  "Crazy Heart" at the Landmark Theatre tonight in West Los Angeles.

Usually, when there is a sneak preview of a film, a director and/or actor (usually lower-down on the totem in co-star capacity) put in an appearance at a Q & A session held after the credits roll.

On this auspicious occasion, however, all the headlining actors (save for Colin Farrell), trekked onto the podium to meet & greet the excited audience.

Boy, did (they/we) hit the jackpot.

Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall, and Maggie Gyllenhaal were all in tow - and open to the prospect of baring their creative souls to filmgoers - who proceeded to creep forward to the edge of their seats with the aim of catching every scrumptious detail.

In part - their rapt attention may have been due to the fact the live mics (to be facillitated by the illustrious trio in order to respond to the insightful questions fielded them by an LA Times interviewer - encountered some snafus.

When Jeff Bridges plucked up one microphone, for instance, it squealed wildly - and likewise - pierced the eardrums of everyone present in the plush theatre surroundings.

Ouch!

But - the minor annoyance was laughed off - mainly, due to the fact  - the issue was handled with such grace and aplomb.

When one of the composers (T Bone Burnett) suddenly found himself with two mics in hand - a two-fisted speaker, I guess - the humor (and absurdness) of it all struck a nerve in his funny bone.

So, he was inclined to play-act at juggling for a sec or two, then mug for the ticket-holders.

The audience roared.

"That's what happens when a newspaper organizes a film event," the host from the morning daily chuckled.

In a nutshell, the film - Crazy Heart - is a well-crafted tale about a Country & Western star on the skids touring sleazy whiskey joints around the country to make ends meet.

When "Bad" (his nickname) gets a stab at a second chance in life, the film kicks into high gear, and becomes a bit of a morality tale.

In spite of that, Crazy Heart, never crosses the line to become too preachy.

When the writer - Scott Cooper - was asked what inspired the story, he was quick on the uptake.

"Initially, I was thinking of Merle Haggard for the lead character. But, the rights were taken, and there would have been a few ex-wives to deal with," the fresh-faced writer noted for the record.

Like myself, a handful of folks in the audience thought of rugged Kris Kristofferson right away, when the character sprang to life on the wide screen.

Cooper confessed that "Bad" was a composite of Kristofferson, Haggard, and a couple of other trail-blazers from the old country-and-western musical genre of yesteryear.

A second cowboy singer - played by Colin Farrell - was not inspired by Billy Ray Cyrus, though, as some speculated (me!).

A Western star from Australia triggered that characterization.

"I grew up near the Blue Ridge Mountains raised on bluegrass. The music was in my marrow," Cooper revealed.

Not every scene turned up in the can to make the theatre rounds, however.

"One crucial scene ended up on the cutting room floor because I didn't have an agreement for the final cut," the disgruntled director quibbled with a tinge of angst in his voice.

Robert Duvall laughed in response.

"Scott here was known as "precious" on the set," he chided in a slightly amusing derogatory aside.

Ouch!

Scott, just remember, the only director who ever had final cut of any legitimate binding value in Hollywood, was the legendary film great Orson Welles (Citizen Kane).

After the fact, the studio suits made sure that "artists" (at the creative end of things) were relegated to the lowly level stature of mere cattle (with little say in the packaging and promotion of the "factory product") for good reason!

In "Crazy Heart", Jeff Bridges has turned in one of the most memorable performances of his entire career.

"The Big Lebowski" star inhabits the role - literally breathes life into the character with such remarkable ease -  that it will stagger the sensibilities of all filmgoers

Jeff's acting is seamless, believable, and downright rivetting.

Speaking of the Big Lebowski, the classic Coen Brothers film is still garnering a lot of attention at annual tribute Festivals and filling theatres at midnight screenings under the auspices of "Insomniac Cinema" around the country.

Post:

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/01/big-lebowskiscreens-at-insomniac-cinema.html

There is now a podcast airing weekly on the Internet in respect to all things "Dude-wise" & Big Lebowski favored.

Post:

http://fraudphishing-financialmisdees.blogspot.com/2009/02/big-lebowskipodcast-up-and-running-dude.html

In spite of the fact Scott Cooper alleged that he never screened "The Big Lebowski" - he only spied snatches of it here and there in previews on TV and that sort-of-thing over the years - the opening scene in "Crazy Heart" smacks of the one at the beginning of the Coen Brothers "Lebowski" feature (where the cowboy strides up to the bar and plunks himself down on a stool).

Uncanny.

In contrast to Bridges, I found Colin Farrell's acting to be a bit stilted - too external - for my taste.

Duvall - well, as always - he's the consummate professional.

Maggie Gyllenhaal was a total revelation, too.

The film resonated with me for a couple of reasons in particular.

For starters, early on in Crazy Heart, "Bad" laments his age.

OMG!

The character was the same age as moi.

But, the parallels got more intriguing.

For instance, at one point the Jeff Bridges character is barrelling down the highway, when he falls asleep at the wheel of his suburban.

I sat bolt upright in my seat.

A few months ago, I noted in a post that on the way back from Vegas, I nodded off on a quiet stretch of highway.

Fortunately, when the wheels hit the shoulder - and the ride subsquently got quite bumpy - I was jolted awake and managed to steer the out-of-control SUV back onto the pavement without mishap.

Later, I determined after a test at a sleep clinic, that I suffer from a disorder which I now take a prescription for to alleviate.

And, there were a couple of other aspects of the storyline that also rang true with me (which I'll pass on discussing at this point in time for personal reasons).

Needless to say, the movie-going experience was a very real - thought-provoking one - which also managed to entertain along the way.

Nothing earth-shattering in nature, but for sure, "Crazy Heart" is charming down-to-earth bill-of-fare.

I give it two thumbs up!

http://www.julianayrs.com

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When considering our privacy, who should we fear more -- the NSA, or the communications companies?

I then came upon a story that explains one of the reasons why communications companies might be in such a hurry to bundle communications services.

Frequently, we see articles about the NSA violating people's privacy. Recently, there was quite a stir about certain communications companies, who were providing them with a lot of personal information.

Who should we fear more, the NSA, or the communications companies?

David Lazarus (LA Times) did a really interesting story of how these new bundle communications deals have you agree to a thousand word privacy policy, which essentially allows them to share your most personal details with just about ANYONE!

Selling and reselling people's information has led to a loss of privacy and is probably the root cause of a lot of identity and information theft. While selling information to the NSA makes good press -- on a personal level, I fear other entities -- who steal and (sometimes buy) this information a lot more than the NSA.

Of course, this is is my opinion, but trust me, I can back it up.

The motivation to gather all this personal information is simple, it's worth a lot of money.

Here is an excerpt from David's story, which I highly recommend anyone link to and read.

"All your eggs are in one communications basket," said Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in San Diego. "If a company wants to, it can learn a great deal about you -- and it probably wants to."

More often than not, it'll also want to turn a fast buck by selling at least a portion of that info to marketers.

All leading telecom companies are aggressively pushing these bundled service plans after investing billions of dollars in high-speed digital networks. For consumers, the upside is often a hefty savings compared with acquiring the same services from multiple providers.

The downside is that you're making intimate details of virtually all your network activities available to a single company -- and possibly government officials.

David Lazarus's story can be seen by linking, here.

Another thing to be careful of are marketing promotions from some of these companies, which expire at a certain point.

If you fail to cancel, or renew them, the price of them frequently explodes to an unreasonable (higher than market) cost.

Most of them do claim (if you bother to call and ask why) to have sent you a notice in the mail. Problem is they look just like all the other junk mail (marketing) offers that we frequently throw into the shredder without reading.

Best bet is to (if possible) put a reminder on your computer to cancel, or renew the deal.

Privacy notices and marketing promotions seem to have a lot of fine print. Here is another post, I did about privacy notices:

Not answering a Privacy Notice gives the sender permission to sell your personal/financial information

Here is another interesting article from the Electronic Frontier Foundation on this subject about a call by "Representative Edward J. Markey to launch an investigation into violations of customer privacy by the major telecommunications companies."

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Identity theft, the crime that can follow a person for years!

I first started reading David Lazarus at the San Francisco Chronicle early in 2006, when he wrote about a huge data breach that was later tied to Office Max. Please note that Office Max never quite admitted to being the point of compromise.

That data breach was tied to payment card fraud that spread quickly across the entire country.

Since then it's become very apparent that hackers have been targeting merchants for the credit/debit (payment) card information they've been storing in not very safe places.

David has left his digs at the San Francisco Chronicle and now writes for the LA Times.

In what appears to be his first story for them, he wanted to let his readers know:

The honchos here at the paper say I should devote my first column to introducing myself. At the moment, there's only one thing I want anyone to know about me: I'm not Derrick Davis.

And I want this guy out of my life once and for all.

David understands the frustration a lot of people go through when someone takes over their financial life.

In David's case, the person who stole his identity wasn't even here legally. Apparently, he was also able to use a social security number that didn't match his name to run up lines of credit and open checking accounts. It's amazing that the credit was issued, when discrepancies like these existed.

Davis was eventually caught, but only because David worked the case himself and had a sympathetic soul (Postal Inspector), who took the information for action.

Even then since Davis was an illegal immigrant, the worst that happened to him was being deported to Jamaica.

Trust me, catching an identity thief is rare and hard to accomplish, unless you know the right people. The odds of not getting caught are 99 to 1, according to statistics.

All of this occurred in 2003 and David is still suffering from the episode.

When he moved to LA from San Francisco and tried to buy a new house, David discovered that the credit bureaus were still listing some of the bad debt Davis created. The mortgage company even suggested that David pay the debt Davis had incurred to allow their deal to go through on schedule.

Being well connected, David was able to get a couple of comments from Linda Foley at the Identity Theft Resource Center:

The question is not if you'll become a victim of identity theft. It's when. It's the crime that keeps on giving. It's the never-ending story.

You think you get everything solved, and then it's like a ghost that reappears.

I'll follow David's work to the LA Times. I've always found him to be an excellent read and very knowledgeable on this subject. He has educated a lot of people this growing problem, and even has helped enact laws that protect people from this crime.

When I first started reading his articles, I had just discovered my information had been stolen in the compromise that Office Max never admitted to.

I guess I'll have to keep wondering if that unfortunate episode will come back to haunt me sometime in the future.

David's introduction to his new readers at the LA Times, here.

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