"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Jeff Kleist]

[quote[Contact may well be my all time favorite film. It's definitely in a top 5 of films that are hard to rank further.
It is one of few instances where the book is excellent, and the film does an incredible job of distilling the themes of the book, while providing a much more theatrical experience. Both the book and film can be enjoyed independently, and you get something different out of taking the time to explore both.
I have never understood the love it or hate it element of this film. I do think if people evaluated it more fairly, it'd eventually be deemed a classic on the order of 2001[/quote]

Oh come on now, it actually makes sense Contact is an amazing film, it does justice to the book, and it accomplishes inspriration and awe without resorting to cheesy string pulling. I always feel very close to Elly every time I watch.

I did a group interview with Jodie Foster for Panic Room, and someone asked her about her commentary on Contact (Which is superb if you haven't listened to it Penton). She said that she'd never even heard a commentary before doing that one, and that the kids operated the DVD player in the house. Something tells me she hasn't dared touch the Blu-ray, assuming they even have one

She was a delight to listen to BTW, a true gentlewoman in every respect of the word, and next to Terry Carter from Battlestar Galactica (only because that was one on one) the BEST experience I've ever had with anyone in Hollywood.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

Additionally, Wal-Mart still charges a few dollars more on average for Blu-ray titles versus what customers pay to buy them online from merchants like Amazon.com.

Wal-Mart has been very competitive lately... forcing Amazon to price match them. "Monsters Vs. Aliens" ($19.96), "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" ($19.96), and they've had recent deals on movies like "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" for $19.96 a few weeks after release. Add in exclusives like "The Wizard of Oz" for $19.96, and the upcoming "Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen" with IMAX footage for $19.96... and they've been doing good lately.

Not a Wal-Mart fan, but had to mention this.

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

For the uninformed members out there, this scientist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan
wrote the novel and is to whom the movie is dedicated to, with the phrase “For Carl” at the end.

I watched "The Fly" on Blu-ray for the first time last night, and noticed the novel for "Contact" was sitting on Geena Davis' character's boss bookshelf.

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I do think if people evaluated it more fairly, it'd eventually be deemed a classic on the order of 2001.

Let's please not get that started again!

~Alan

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I did a group interview with Jodie Foster for Panic Room, and someone asked her about her commentary on Contact (Which is superb if you haven't listened to it Penton). She said that she'd never even heard a commentary before doing that one, and that the kids operated the DVD player in the house. Something tells me she hasn't dared touch the Blu-ray, assuming they even have one

She was a delight to listen to BTW, a true gentlewoman in every respect of the word, and next to Terry Carter from Battlestar Galactica (only because that was one on one) the BEST experience I've ever had with anyone in Hollywood.

I adore Jodie Foster. I think she's one of a select group of actors who is both incredibly intelligent and at the top of their craft. I would watch any movie she chooses to be a part of, and based on the quality of the Contact commentary alone, I would devote time to any commentary she participates in.
She also seems a very decent, if overly private human being.

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Let's please not get that started again!

~Alan

I know that Jeff recognizes my perspective on Contact and can understand that I'm only using 2001 for context. He's welcome to choose any meritorious film he likes

But if anyone references South Park in the discussion, I'm going to take my ball and go home.

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

But if anyone references South Park in the discussion, I'm going to take my ball and go home.

Just blame Canada

[Bobby Henderson]

Just blame Canada

Don't get me started about Kyle's mom.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Thanks for reading...

Special mention must be made for your links to the Steadicam hall of fame site... Man, I know the internet is full of deliciously nerdy stuff, but that's just priceless...

Well, I would ask you folks what were some of the first feature films to actually use steadicam but, the dang internet has that covered with a correct Wikipedia entry so, in lieu of that, I’ll post a link to one shot that I still have a robust feel for and to pay homage to Garrett Brown (and Philly)…………

http://www.steadishots.org/shots_detail.cfm?shotID=76

P.S.
Here’s some camera operator trivia/slang that I doubt you’ll find on the internet.
What’s an “obie” and what actress was it essentially named for ?

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, I would ask you folks what were some of the first feature films to actually use steadicam but, the dang internet has that covered with a correct Wikipedia entry so, in lieu of that, I’ll post a link to one shot that I still have a robust feel for and to pay homage to Garrett Brown (and Philly)…………

http://www.steadishots.org/shots_detail.cfm?shotID=76

P.S.
Here’s some camera operator trivia/slang that I doubt you’ll find on the internet.
What’s an “obie” and what actress was it essentially named for ?

Freakishly, I think I knew this:

http://www.innovateshowcontrols.com/...ht-overlay.php

"Compact light fitting designed to mount just above a film/stills camera lens for two reasons: firstly to create a characteristic glint in the eye of the subject of the photograph/film (it's known as the Eye Light), secondly to flatten out any lines/wrinkles in the face of the subject. The Obie Light is named after the actress Merle Oberon (known to friends as "Obie"). It was first used by her husband, cinematographer Lucien Ballard, in the 1940s to make lines and shadows disappear from her face which were due to scarring following a car accident. The Obie Light is normally heavily diffused"



Lucien's wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucien_Ballard

And -any- film nerd would know about Garett's invention, I'd think. First thing I ever saw him do, naturally, was the walkthrough of redwood forest for ROTJ... It was only after that I found out about Rocky, Shining, etc.

[Penton-Man]

I’m impressed shark.
I didn’t think anyone would get what an “obie” is…..much less within 2 hrs.

And what a novel idea…….heavily diffused lighting during the principal photography can cause a motion picture to appear soft.

Who woulda thunk?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

And -any- film nerd would know about Garett's invention, I'd think.

o.k., so you’re a techno nerd.
Are you a tough guy too?

Who’s Wade Garrett?

[Penton-Man]

Hmm………seems there are way too many editors in this town ……..
http://www.oscars.org/press/pressrel.../20091007.html

I think that some people who didn’t get their tickets early might just be standing in the rain on Vine tomorrow evening.

Anyway, do you think that a current interview with Anne would be a worthwhile supplement to the eventual to be released Blu-ray movie about Saudis, Turks and a Brit (http://blog.taragana.com/n/letters-b...overed-172930/) in the desert?

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

... secondly to flatten out any lines/wrinkles in the face of the subject...

The Obie light was also used a lot in filming aging stars Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor in the TV series Green Acres.

[Bobby Henderson]

"Compact light fitting designed to mount just above a film/stills camera lens for two reasons: firstly to create a characteristic glint in the eye of the subject of the photograph/film (it's known as the Eye Light), secondly to flatten out any lines/wrinkles in the face of the subject. The Obie Light is named after the actress Merle Oberon (known to friends as "Obie"). It was first used by her husband, cinematographer Lucien Ballard, in the 1940s to make lines and shadows disappear from her face which were due to scarring following a car accident. The Obie Light is normally heavily diffused"

The more common term for "eye light" among still photographers is "catch light."

Many newer on-camera flashes have added features making it easier to create catch lights in the eyes of shooting subjects. My Canon Speedlight 580-EX II has a white plastic tab which extends upward behind the flash lens. When the flash is angled upward (to bounce light off the ceiling) the white plastic card is pointed more toward the subject. That bounces some subtle fill light and catch lights into the subject's eyes, but rarely ever any red eye. Pretty nice.

Some photographers shoot portraits and body shots using macro lenses with macro ring lights attached. Look at portrait photos of people and see how many have white doughnut shaped catch lights in the eyes. Ring lights provide some of the same effect as the Obie light on movie cameras. Macro ring lights and twin lights can tend to give off a harsh, flat lighting effect. The flash settings must be carefully set to provide just enough fill. A hand held light meter can be helpful in that regard.

Ring light setups are available for a number of different video camera systems. The last UFC pay per view event I watched featured a ring-light equipped camera that was used to get footage of fighters as they walked from the locker rooms to the fighting octagon.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Anyway, do you think that a current interview with Anne would be a worthwhile supplement to the eventual to be released Blu-ray movie about Saudis, Turks and a Brit (http://blog.taragana.com/n/letters-b...overed-172930/) in the desert?

I enjoyed her comments in the supplements of Becket, so I say give me more.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Who’s Wade Garrett?

Sam Eliott's character in Road House?

http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0018225/

"That girl has way too many brains to have an ass like that"

Charmant...

OT, Road House is the first and only film I ever bought a ticket for with the full intent of not watching the film, and instead having a darkened room to make out with my then girlfriend.

But, I'm assuming you're referring to someone else, alas...

OT again, another Swayze film ("Next of Kin") has the same name as Egoyan's first, and it came out the same year. I joked with him about this at TIFF this year, and he told me that at some international film fest they did a retrospective of Egoyan's films, and on the cover was a giant pic of the Swayze-man.

Strange world...

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Anyway, do you think that a current interview with Anne would be a worthwhile supplement to the eventual to be released Blu-ray movie about Saudis, Turks and a Brit (http://blog.taragana.com/n/letters-b...overed-172930/) in the desert?

I take it, then, that we're still at the "assets collection" phase? If we don't have direct participation from O'Toole then it'll be shame. Ditto for RAH (I'd love an indepth look at the various restorations/video releases, from VHS to LD to the two DVDs with radically different colour spaces...)

Several commentaries, one from filmmakers, one from historians, would be cool as well. Oh, and a full feature doc on 70mm filmmaking in the desert, please. And, heck, a limited edition box that comes with an actual 70mm cell!

Just sayin'.

[SquidPuppet]

Mr. P.

Can you say if SONY and Cirque du Soleil have plans to release any more of their shows on Blu?

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Hmm………seems there are way too many editors in this town ……..
http://www.oscars.org/press/pressrel.../20091007.html

I think that some people who didn’t get their tickets early might just be standing in the rain on Vine tomorrow evening.

Anyway, do you think that a current interview with Anne would be a worthwhile supplement to the eventual to be released Blu-ray movie about Saudis, Turks and a Brit (http://blog.taragana.com/n/letters-b...overed-172930/) in the desert?

A Brit played by an Irishman

And if you're taking requests;
Along with everything sharkshark suggested how about.....
Reflections/anecdotes/memories from any surviving cast & crew members
Feature-length documentary on Lean
Isolated music track
A pouch of genuine Arabian desert sand
Commentary by Spielberg & Scorsese
"Restoration" feature by Robert Harris (I loved the Godfather one he did)

[Vincent Pereira]

I'd like to see the footage that Lean and Harris wanted to restore to the film but they didn't have time to find a vocal double to re-record the dialog in time for the locked-in Cannes premiere of the restoration. I believe O'Toole was able to re-record his lines, but they were unable to track down an acceptable vocal dubber in time for the other actor who had passed away. Maybe show the scene with O'Toole's dialogue, then subtitle the other actor where his lines are missing? Or better yet, find a vocal dubber who works and restore the footage to the film?

Vincent

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

A Brit played by an Irishman

And if you're taking requests;
Along with everything sharkshark suggested how about.....
Reflections/anecdotes/memories from any surviving cast & crew members
Feature-length documentary on Lean
Isolated music track
A pouch of genuine Arabian desert sand
Commentary by Spielberg & Scorsese
"Restoration" feature by Robert Harris (I loved the Godfather one he did)

Galway, that's in the North, no? Near the island of Scotland? Oh, wait. That's Yorkshire.

*cough*

(Brits, Irish, "is é a locht a laghad", I always say...)

But I digress...

Vincent, that's a cool tale, I had no idea there was additional footage.

There's of course LOTS that should be on this disc - Heck, get Queen Noor involved to show us around the Jordanian desert! Although, I guess having banned it that might be a bit, uh, dicey...

Certainly we should have old newsreel footage, as well as some of the presentation footage that Lowell Thomas shucked around the world ("With Allenby in Palestine" and "Lawrence in Arabia") - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Thomas

And, for you guys, how about a feature about vintage motorcycles?

Sorry, now I'm pandering...