A New Museum In Hollywood Dedicated to Films

There is a new museum that will hopefully open in 2017, three years from now. The museum is owned by LACMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and they have stated that their goal is to create a place where people can visit and be indulged with the "art, history and technology of cinema." In the article they talked about how a few years back and in different countries, how museums dedicated to films did well in the beginning and then had to eventually shut down because the museums wouldn't be making enough money.
I believe that this article is important enough to be posted on the internet, so that people can see what is going on in the world, especially the film industry. Most people believe that the film industry is mainly focused on creating movies and that is only a small fraction of it. When the museum is finished and opened for the audience people will see have a better understanding about the film industry. This article is important because the museum will be an icon here in Los Angeles, where the entertainment business all started.
This article makes me realize, not only as a teen but also as a future filmmaker, how tough the film industry is, and how people want the world to now that films is an art form and how important it has become for our culture. It makes me realize how people have tried to make film museums successful but have failed towards the end due to financial problems.
I wonder if big companies and groups will contribute to fund the museum for its construction and later on when it has its doors opened for the public and I also wonder how LACMA will try to captivate the world about the museum.

Film Journal #6- It's over!!!

This week has been the last week of working on the project and we turned it in the beginning of class on Wednesday. On Monday, my group and I worked on finishing editing our film and our director and editor spent time after school trying to finish it. In the end I think it came out pretty good but I think we could have spent more time on it, to make the story a little more clear.
In this project I learned that it is important to record sound while filming because you have a limited amount of time to get all of your shots and then you have to spend at least the same amount of time you spent on filming the shots on editing the film to create a good story and to make it flow. I also learned that one has to sacrifice their time in making a film possible and doing a good job on it. I know that our group missed some shots and sounds in the film but at least next time when we work on another project we know what is important and what isn't.

Film Journal #5- Almost Done

This week was all about editing and recording our sound. We thought that we could have finished on time on the regular due date which was October 18, 2013, but we noticed that we needed more time. As did the other groups. The due date has been extended and the film will be due on Tuesday at the end of class. So far We are almost done inputing our audio and the ADR was pretty easy. Since our film only contained two lines. We finished recording sound and now we just need to finish editing our film and finish on time.

Film Journal #4- Editing "The Necklace"

This entire school week consisted of editing in class and working on foley outside of class. On Sunday we finished filming our film but while we were editing we noticed that we need to re-shoot some scenes for various reasons. We found out that our film is too long and we need to cut things short because some of our shots are too long and are useless to the film. We need to film close-ups to keep the story nice and short and to the point, but not too short. We'd  have agreed to re-shoot on Sunday and get the shots we need and finish editing our film by Friday. Also we need to add our foley and record our ADR for the film. As the due date gets closer, I'm starting to wonder if we will finish our film on time, but I'm pretty sure we will. We have been working hard towards the film and I think our hard work will pay off.

Film Journal #3- Continuing On With the Film

This week has been the third week on working on the film with my group. We've shot new scenes and re-shot old scenes and we've been working on recording sound for our film. The project is to be due in two weeks. So far we've shot mostly all our scenes and we are hoping that by Sunday we are done with filming so that we can now focus our attention with editing and sound, especially with ADR. This whole week consisted of our group meeting up at our director's house after school, filming for about two and a half hours per day. On Wednesday, we decided to work on foley since our actors where not able to film on that day. So far there is progress in our film. during class we edit and see if we need to re-shoot a scene or if we need to shoot a shot that we missed that is needed for our film. As stated before, I feel positive that the film is going to be done on time but now the only thing that worries me is sound. Some of our members have been working on foley as the rest of the group together but we haven't filmed ADR yet. I think that ADR is going to be a difficult task because even though we know what the actors say, we need to make sure its is said the way they said it in the shot. In the end, I believe that everything is going along well and that we will finish the film on time. 

Film Journal #2- Production Has Begun

This week has been was very productive week and I think our group is on track on getting the film done on time. Our director and DP worked on the shot list and I worked on the schedule and figuring out when people can't be available when we need to shoot, and getting the prop list ready, locations. On Monday, both the director and DP finished the shot list and on Tuesday we got all of our props ready, so that we can start filming the next day. On Wednesday, my group and I started filming the beginning of our film that takes place at a Doughnut Shop. We all arrived on time and we started right away. while filming we faced a problem, since we were filming inside the shop and the walls were basically windows, the sun would appear and disappear causing lighting problems. Luckily we thought fast and we fixed the problem as best as we could. Today while the director and DP imported the shots into the computer, they realized that some shots wouldn't work for the film and that we didn't pay attention to how the props were placed in the frame. We have to re-shoot the scene tomorrow on Friday and pay more attention on what is going to be in the frame and to make sure that everything is placed correctly every time we shoot, and we are going to have to also pay attention to our lighting while we film. We've seen our mistakes and have learned from them.

Film Journal #1- Pre- Production

This week we have been put in groups and chosen a script to film, "The Necklace" by Ricki Herrera. So far we've written, edited, rewritten, and edited some more on our script. As producer I have to organize everything, like what props we need, the locations we're going to be filming at, the actors, equipment, and creating a schedule to keep the group on track. In the beginning I had everything organized, when we would start filming and what days and where we would be filming but since we've kept revising the script we noticed that we may start production later and before we could even start filming we need a shot list and a storyboard. So, after those items are completed I may revise the schedule for our group. Hopefully we can start filming in 3 or 4 days. So far, I believe that we are on track and know what we need and what we are going to do. 

Harry Potter Fans Prepare to be Amazed

Warner Bros. have announced that they will release a  "Harry Potter" spin-off with the author of the "Harry Potter" books, J.K Rowling. J.K Rowling, "felt uncomfortable with the idea of another writer signing on to the project when she was so familiar with the 'fictional universe.' 'I feel very protective of it, and I already knew a lot about Newt.'" Newt Scamander is said to be the protagonist of the film since he wrote a textbook named, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" that will be set in New York 70 years before Harry Potter. Most people are already looking forward to it but Warner Bros. haven't decided yet when to announce its release date. I found this interesting, since I am a Harry Potter fan, both of the books and films. I feel like this spin-off will have a 50/50 chance, it may either come out really good like the series or it may come out pretty bad causing all the hardcore Harry Potter fans to be upset. The Harry Potter films were good compared to other films that I've seen that were based on a novel, like The Percy Jackson series, but who knows the spin-off may become a hit. As a future filmmaker it lets me know that depending how successful and good a novel may be, it can become a film but that one must always consider how the fans/ consumers will react to the film. I wonder how long they have to be in production to produce a movie like this, with so much information and effects and how do they do it to make it into a 2-hour film?

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-jk-rowling-warner-brothers-harry-potter-20130912,0,372554.story

Gianni Amelio- Last Italian Director to Win Venice's Golden Lion in 15 Years

Gianni Amelio, the last Italian director to win Venice's Golden Lion in fifteen years for his film, "Cosi Ridevano ( The Way We Laughed)", in 1998. He returned this year with his new film, L'Intrepido (Intrepido- A Lonely Hero), a film that addresses Italy's unemployment matters with a sense of humor. Amelio stated that the reason he was drawn into making a film about Italy's problems was because he was drawn into speaking about the problem but he added humor so that the film wouldn't be so depressing. It reminded him of two other films that did the same thing, Miracolo in Milano (Miracle in Milan) and Ladri di Biciclette (The Bicycle Thief). He also talked about his actors, about mixing experience actors with amateur actors together and found it to be "an interesting alchemy". After being told that Marco Bellocchio thought that Venice didn't treat Italian directors well, he said, "Maybe Bellocchio was onto something. Maybe. But it’s hard for everyone. There are -- how many? -- 20 films in competition and one gets the Golden Lion. Anyway, I like to think cinema is without borders and that films are Italian films or French films or whatever. They’re just films." Gianni Amelio also said that it is not all about winning the prizes at the festivals, that a film was a form of art and, "it’s wrong to look at it like a horse race."
The thing that caught my interest about the article was that Gianni Amelio knew what he was talking about and like to experiment, for example with his actors, combining the experienced and newcomers to work together and in the end it all worked out for him. As a student and future filmmaker it showed me how some directors think and why they do the things they do and how it is in film festivals.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/intrepido-director-gianni-amelio-mixing-622449

Production Companies to Change Distributing Methods?

Kevin Spacey an actor from Netflix's show, "House of Cards" said, " Netflix has demonstrated they have learned the lesson that the music industry didn't – give people what they want, when they want it, in the form they want it in at a reasonable price and they’ll more than likely pay for it rather than pirate it." He also said that television and production companies can learn from Netflix since "House of Cards" earned nine Emmy nominations, including best drama and the second season is on the way. He said that Netflix demonstrated that the audience want to control what they want to see and when they want to see it. Who knows if the big production companies will think about will change their ways but after seeing how successful Netflix is, they may consider the idea. As a consumer I wouldn't mind if television and production companies would distribute their shows or films like Netflix and I'm pretty sure everyone else wouldn't as well. Netflix lets us re-watch seasons of our favorites shows and movies and discover new ones to indulge ourselves in as well and all for one low cost, $8 a month. If companies were to consider the idea they may have higher ratings for their shows since now everyone has internet and wouldn't have to rely on channels that certain companies may have.

http://www.techspot.com/news/53783-kevin-spacey-urges-tv-film-industry-to-revamp-distribution-methods.html

DOTS- Archiving Films Digitally

DOTS- a Digital Optical Technology System that was developed by the Eastman Kodak Company but is being patented by Group 47. They were formed around 2008 and have been working on securing patents, designs, and manufacturing processes for the DOTS. The reason for DOTS being created is said that when studios save their movies on films it lasts for about a century but with DOTS it lasts 100 plus years. But not many people are fond of DOTS since they say, "Archiving in the digital age is considered a dilemma that might result in the loss of some of Hollywood’s movie history." There are two sides to this issue but Group 47 considers that , while one thinks that this will put aside of archiving movies in film, others "are already showing interest in the technology. And, since archiving of historical material is a global issue that extends well beyond the entertainment industry, Hummel told The Hollywood Reporter that 'Group 47 is also working with some government agencies who are very supportive [of DOTS].' " DOTS has been proven to withstand harsh conditions. Such as, that it is immune from electromagnetic fields, it is chemically inert, non-magnetic, and that it is able to be stored in room temperature or extreme temperatures ranging from 15 - 150 degrees of Fahrenheit. I believe that DOTS is a good thing for the film industry because one will be able to save their movies on DOTS, instead of film, which will make it last longer because it is able to withstand harsh conditions. What do you guys think?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/digital-archiving-technology-dots-could-612674
http://www.group47.com/site/index.php/what-is-dots
http://www.group47.com/site/index.php/about-group-47/group-47-llc

Christian Bale Ready to See a New Batman on the Big Screen

The "Batman v.s Superman" film has been announced this year at San Diego's comic-con which has Batman and Superman fans to be guessing who will star in this film. "Man of Steel's" Henry Cavill will be Superman but Christian Bale won't play Batman again, after three successful movies. "Bale says he is now ready to see a new actor take on the role he brought to life for three successful films." Now the question on everybody's minds is who will play Batman in the upcoming film and  rumors are going around that Orlando Bloom is going to play Batman but no one is for sure. Armie Hammer and Scott Adkins have also been rumored to be auditioning of the role of Batman. As a consumer who has seen all the three Batman films, that starred Christian Bale its hard to see anyone else being Batman. And I'm sure others may say the same thing but if Christian Bale is ready to see a new actor in the big screen then the audience should be as well. Who knows maybe Orlando Bloom, Armie Hammer, or Scott Adkins will the do good job with the new film and they will be the new Batman. As a future filmmaker it makes it clear to me that an actor can't always play the part of a character all the time, that new actors should be given the chance as well and that one should think what will be the best for the film.

http://www.ibtimes.com/orlando-bloom-play-batman-batman-vs-superman-movie-1381095

http://www.ibtimes.com/christian-bale-wont-play-batman-again-says-hes-ready-pass-role-another-actor-1330603