Jon Baker (of Twin/Window Productions) has just finished the first in series of two fun and adorable spots for Wrigley’s Extra. The 45 sports a small horde of small, vinyl toy-like food characters following a guy around for a day trying to tempt him.
“For me, the most exciting thing about this job was the thought of creating real toy characters that walk around, have personalities and feel completely alive and in the scene. From their appearance, to the 3d animation, to the lighting, I wanted there to be no doubt that they could actually exist and pull off everything we wanted them to do. Look-wise, I was influenced from a variety of vinyl designer toys… the style you’d find in boutiques like Kid Robot or surrounding the desks of designers and 3d nerds the world over. We went to a lot of effort to incorporate the tiniest of realistic details, from casting seams, to paint inconsistencies, to scuffs, to manufacturer’s stamps… even if you don’t actually notice them in the final ad”.
I’ve seen this on air a few time here is Aus and loved it. Its a finely crafted little spot that isn’t as over the top with its use of ficional characters as a lot of similarly themed pieces I’ve seen, and in this case I think it’s better for it. Make sure you check out the links on the featured page for some great concept work including character sketches, renderings and early 3D tests.
The spot was directed by Jonathan Baker at Window Productions, the characters designed by Morten Rowley, the visual effects created by FUEL, and the music by Nylon.
Damian Marley joins Gwen Stefani for a breezy and bangin’ raggae remix of her song, Now That You Got It, which is far superior to the schizophrenic original – produced by and featuring Swizz Beatz.
We hope Stefani released this remix as her next single. It has big summer hit written all over it!
Her Madgesty keeps cool on the London set of the new shot film she’s directing, Filth and Wisdom. Finish this and get back to work on your new album, girl!
From supporting roles in Oliver Stone’s “Platoon” and the various films with Tim Burton, Johnny Depp has always proven himself a good actor, but without a doubt, the Pirates franchise has launched him into superstar status. It is rather sad then, to see that Depp appears to be out of energy for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End , the third entry into the franchise, which filmed back to back with last year’s Dead Man’s Chest. There are points in this film where something supernatural has to happen because it is a requirement, and that’s alright, so long as the film itself is a stack of fun. World’s End only gets mildly fun in the last half hour of two and a half hours, with the energy coming not from Depp or Orlando Bloom, but from Geoffery Rush and Keira Knightley, the latter who not only has nice costume changes but also gets more of the swashbuckling action than most of the guys. (more…)
So apparently the voice of Wilbur in that live-action version of "Charlotte's Web" from last year is some kind of filmmaker (he's 11). Anyway, the kid -- his name his Dominic Scott Kay -- made this short about his dead dog starring Kevin Bacon, and wound up suing one of his "backers" (the one who gave him $11K) because she was a mad woman desperate for creative control. Obviously, this raises a few questions. $11K? (For real?) Who's so domineering that they have to take over some little kid's short film, even for $11K? How does an 11-year-old sue? Is there no one Kevin Bacon won't work with?
Hello, blog. Long time no see. Sometimes a week gets away from a movie critic, and between all the screenings and the copy deadlines, the youngest child (that would be you, blog) gets neglected. Please don't go through a rebellious stage in a desperate bid to get attention.
Everyone will be going to see "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" this weekend. I mean everyone. Didn't you get the memo? This will assuredly break the box office record set by "Spider-Man 3," and it's everyone's duty to pitch in. Just go to the theater and throw money at the screen.
The critics are mixed-to-peevish, not that it matters with a juggernaut like this. Me, I liked it better than the second installment while acknowledging that it's not a patch on the first one -- but what threequel is?
If you want some beautifully noisy peace and quiet instead, I urge you to see "Once," the amazing Irish rock musical (sort of) romance (sort of) opening today at the Coolidge and the Harvard Square. All the actual human feeling that "Pirates" can't fit into its 168 minutes is here in half the running time, and, lord, the tunes soar. If you know the Irish band The Frames, whose Glen Hansard plays the anonymous male lead, you know what to expect. If not, think Damien Rice duetting with Keren Ann in a Dublin back alley.
"Day Night Day Night" is still at the Coolidge, too. Make it a double-bill and blow your mind out the back of the theater.
I haven't seen "Bug," but Wesley gives it three and a half and as a certified member of the Ashley Judd Guilty Pleasure Fan Club ("Eye of the Beholder"? A brilliant addition to world cinema) I consider it my duty to check it out in due time. Fans of the strange may want to as well. Warning: It's half horror movie, half Off Broadway play.
The Brattle is still acting like a grindhouse: Bruce Lee lands onscreen on Sunday. It's my personal opinion that if there's not a junkie shooting up in the third row, a couple having sex in the back, and a scary guy breathing hard in the seat directly behind you, it is faux grindhouse, not the real thing. But you take what you can get.
So far the Cannes Film Festival has toasted Michael Moore's new docu-provocation "Sicko" about the American health care system (well, some Canadians are annoyed, since he might be be overly smitten with their health care system).
Abel Ferrara's "GoGo Tales" was also well received. Apparently, it's a sentimental look at a sleazy nightclub and its denizens, with Asia Argento, who's also sleazy in Olivier Assayas's latest, "Boarding Gate." Hou Hsiao-hsien's new movie, "The Flight of the Red Balloon, is also there, with Juliette Binoche narrating a puppet play.
Here is the Village Voice's J. Hoberman's entertaining report from this year's festival, his appreciation of the Romanian director Cristian Mungiu's abortion drama "4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days" is particular good.
And the New York Times has a somewhat daily podcast in which Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott talk to each other and to filmmakers like the Coens. It's worth subscribing to, if only to make you regret staying home.
Here are some of the words Harvey Weinstein is using to describe his critics: jealous; disgruntled; has-been. The first two, you may have assumed, refer to the many people criticizing the ability and financial stability of The Weinstein Co. The latter, though, is directed at an internationally respected filmmaker, Luc Besson. The comment was in response to Besson's claim that TWC mishandled the American release of his animated film Arthur and the Invisibles. Weinstein says he'll give the "has-been" $1 million if he can prove that Arthur actually cost $85 million, as Besson claims. So, once again, a film industry dispute turns into a messy blame game, battled with egos rather than brains (and here, I thought Weinstein actually believed Arthur failed because audiences are not used to films that feature both animation and live-action).
But Weinstein could never be personally apologetic for his company's failures. Then he wouldn't be Harvey Weinstein. And it has become a regular thing for him to tell reporters, such as Variety's Anne Thompson, how everyone else is wrong about The Weinstein Co. Despite the obvious, which has been easily noticed by all of us following the film business, Weinstein continues to claim that TWC is doing just fine. Sure, most criticisms are speculative, but mostly they are reasonably so. According to Thompson, rumors are floating around that the Weinstein brothers could lose TWC to its investors; either they will be forced to sell the company or merge with a studio. She also questions TWC's chance for independent success given that even Dreamworks was unable to survive on its own.
Still, Weinstein feels secure in the future of TWC, stating to Thompson that the only thing it's missing is a "glamorous theatrical hit." And he seems hopeful about this summer's release of SiCKO, as well as next year's slate of in-house productions like The Great Debaters, Crossing Over and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. According to Weinstein, anyone who is doubtful about TWC making it is either a jealous competitor, probably some exec just trying to look cool, or a disgruntled former employee. Considering Weinstein has already surprised me once this year, with his almost personally apologetic reaction to the disappointment of Grindhouse ("We obviously didn't do it that well."; "We didn't educate the South or Midwest."; "We missed the boat." -italics mine), I will just have to be open-minded about the possibility of him turning TWC's reputation around.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
This firestorm may not be blowing over any time soon.
Rosie O’Donnell has once again updated her website and in this installment of “Ask Ro” – posted Thursday evening – she doesn’t hold anything back.
Her feelings are hurt and she’s done with The View!
donna writes:
Is there any possibility you will be staying on with the view?
when painting
there is a point
u must step away from the canvas
as the work
is done
anymore would take away
Judy writes:
r u ok?
luv u Judy
i am sad judy
so sad
but i will b ok
Rhonda writes:
Have U talked to EH??
no
LIDIA writes:
HOLA ROSIE!! I SEE THAT YOU ARE FIRM AND STAND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. BUT HOW DO YOU STAY STRONG AND DON’T LET ANYTHING GET UNDER YOUR SKIN?
lidia it IS under my skin
i cant scrub it off
billie writes:
r u seriously thinking of not going back to the view at all? please stay until your scheduled june departure. EH isn’t worth leaving before u say all u need to. hope kel’s bday is great. pls stay, pls
i have said all i needed
lisa writes:
Watched the “debate” WOW! As parents we teach r childrn 2 take responsibility 4 their words & actions, shouldnt u do the same? U need to clarify ur own statements. U r ur best defender.
war is terror
i support the troops
I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATION
From supporting roles in Oliver Stone’s “Platoon” and the various films with Tim Burton, Johnny Depp has always proven himself a good actor, but without a doubt, the Pirates franchise has launched him into superstar status. It is rather sad then, to see that Depp appears to be out of energy for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End , the third entry into the franchise, which filmed back to back with last year’s Dead Man’s Chest. There are points in this film where something supernatural has to happen because it is a requirement, and that’s alright, so long as the film itself is a stack of fun. World’s End only gets mildly fun in the last half hour of two and a half hours, with the energy coming not from Depp or Orlando Bloom, but from Geoffery Rush and Keira Knightley, the latter who not only has nice costume changes but also gets more of the swashbuckling action than most of the guys. 
Here are some of the words 
