SV Movies

Science Fiction Movies

2007-10-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

By: Vinay Rana

These days people are getting more and more crazy for Science Fiction movies as compared to simple family and love movies but of course exceptions are always there. Now days Directors prefer to have computerized characters for their films rather than having real characters. For example movies based on Dinosaurs and Anaconda are already big success. Movies based on space are very much liked by the people and creating ripples on the Box Office.

Movies based on ALIENS and Extra Terrestrials are liked all over the world. Actually the main thing is that the audience is interested more in subjects which are different from... their real life. Science fiction movies creates a sort of fantasy, which the people really love. Most of the fiction movies use highly sophisticated computerized graphics with real life animation. These movies are mostly watch by the young people and teenagers. Movies based on Robots and Man Machines are very much liked by the people.

Day by day the movies are becoming more and more creative. Actually the science fiction movies success totally depends on the creativity in the movie. People like more and more new subjects these days to excite their senses. These movies have lot of action these days. Actually their success also depends on the quality of action in the movie. Most of the stunt scenes are computer based with high graphics and quality.

So, the science movies are more and more likes by the people. The era of science fiction movies has just started and it has go a long way to achieve perfection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vinay_Rana

Simon Pegg Linked To Tintin Movie Role

2007-10-11T03:45:00.000-07:00

By: Holly Franklin

The Tintin Movie that is to be directed by both Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson has led to many wild rumours flying about. The creative duo is planning to film three Tintin movies back to back and the budget rumoured to be in excess of $100 million.

Spielberg has been connected to the project for nearly 25 years as he was approached by Herge the creator of Tintin back in the early 1980's. Herge believed that Spielberg was the only one in Hollywood who could do his comic hero justice on the big screen.

Spielberg though never was able to commit totally to the project because he believed that he would never be capable enough to translate the ligne claire style of action adventure books to the big screen with the technology available. It is only no with Peter Jackson... on board who using his Weta workshop that the Belgium boy detective can now come to life.

The big question and one that has Tintin forums are in a tizzy is the question if who will play the lead? Is it going to be an unknown such as Kristen Myburgh (has been one named linked) who may like Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter go on to become a household name. Well the newest name liked is a more established actor and British cinematic hero Simon Pegg.

Simon Pegg first came to the attention of British People in his self-penned TV series Spaced that became a cult hit. Along with his team of Nick Frost (Co-star) and Edgar Wright (Director) he went onto make the hugely successful Shaun of the Dead (2004) which along with Hot Fuzz (2007) brought him to the attention of Hollywood.

He has made several films this year including his first role as lead in a film that he hasn't written called Run, Fat Boy, Run (directed by David Schwimmer) and he also pops up in Grindhouse too.

The role of Tintin will be huge and will take up a lot of time for which ever actor accepts the lead with the films being shot back to back as Lord of the Rings was. It may not suit Simon Pegg who is always inventive and throwing himself into new projects. Simon though is a known comic book fan and has admitted to loving Tintin in several interviews that has only fuelled the debate.

The question though is whether he has the right look for the film. This maybe not as much of problem as previously thought. Simon Pegg maybe older that Tintin (Estimated to be in his late teens) but the technique that will be used in the films is similar to those used to bring Gollum to life in Lord of the Rings. The character Gollum was created by Weta using motion capture techniques on actor Andy Serkis then using key frame animation and subsurface scattering rendering techniques enabled the first completely convincing portrayal of an animated humanoid in a feature film. This technology would make it easy for Simon Pegg to play Tintin.

The debate is set to rage on and with the first film not scheduled to be finished in production till 2009 there will not be any answer soon.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/simon-pegg-linked-to-tintin-movie-role-231945.html

Urban Movies Rise With Solid Direction

2007-10-07T04:09:00.000-07:00

By: Sid Kali

Please take a moment put away any initial thoughts of the way you think a real movie director should sound and act doing their job. It's tough not to want to emulate directors you respect both in style and attitude.

I learned that during the independent film shoots for Consignment and In With Thieves that were produced under the flag of Slice Of Americana Films.

Drug Dealing, Money, & Power. Consignment deals with the drug trade that thrives at the street level. This fast-paced urban movie erupts into 14 on screen murders. In this business you don't go legit. You just go.

The soundtrack highlights tracks from up and coming East Coast & West Coast artists that include Custom Made Recordings, Ayreon The Don, Malice & Da Commission and Street Squad Entertainment. Consignment is being released November 13, 2007 by Maverick Entertainment Group, Inc. one of the premiere distributors of independent cinema. Consignment will be distributed under their urban label.

In With Thieves is the intense story of a Cuban cartel that practices their own version of Santeria, an African based crime group that deals in blood diamonds, ruthless Albanian gangsters, and a tough American burglary crew. This film was completed July 2007 and is represented by Mark Bosko of The Bosko Group.

We are currently in pre-production for our third film. Stash Spot is a furious urban action film. Rival criminals fight to find a fortune in cash ripped-off during a drug deal gone bad. When the stick-up artists responsible turn up dead, a bloodbath erupts as each vicious criminal makes their ruthless play to locate the money.

Urban movies are on the rise in popularity with viewers. This can be seen in the exploding direct to video market where urban movies have carved out a very respectable following.

Who can forget how hardcore of a director Robert Rodriguez looked on the cover of 'Rebel without A Crew'. Rodriguez's story inspired guerrilla filmmakers everywhere that they could shoot an ultra-low budget action movie like 'El Mariachi' that was entertaining, while giving the finger to the traditional way of getting a movie done.

Quentin Tarantino is a cool as they come. His style is often 'borrowed' from because he knows how to tell a good story using pictures. Tarantino has creative influences like all directors who grew up watching movies. The difference is Tarantino turned those influences into his own unique style.

There are many more directors who make great movies and look cool doing it I didn't mention for the sake of brevity. There's even more directors who's personalities and colorful nature keep them in the publics even if they haven't had a hit movie in years. The cult of personality is a real factor in the world of movies. It can keep some directors working or at least in the media eye until they can turn out a good movie. In Hollywood that may work, but on the true independent side of filmmaking your image won't get you anywhere unless you can make entertaining movies.

Instead of wasting your energy to create a colorful image and developing your own cult following like a rock star. Focus on learning what a director does and has to deal with during a movie shoot. You don't want to be all style and no substance. Craig Brewer, Charles Dutton, Damon Dash, Sid Kali, Hype Williams, John Singleton, The Hughes Brothers, Mario Van Peebles, and Kasi Lemmons had to prove themselves by making sharp urban films before anyone knew who they were or cared.

It takes more than deciding where the camera goes to be a director, especially when you're directing an indie film where you won't have the luxury of sitting in video village cut off from all the other production gyrations going on. I've wrangled cable, broke down equipment, dressed sets, and a dozen other jobs as 'director' on indie film shoots. It's not glamorous, but it gets the job done.

General rules of thumb that will help you become a stronger director.

A strong grasp of the entire process it takes to make a film is important. There's different departments that work together to bring a film together. The camera department, sound department, make-up/wardrobe department etc. You need to know what they do and how to maximize their efforts to help achieve your creative goal as a movie director. On big budget film shoots the departments are very distinct and well supported.

Knowing how to best utilize your team comes from understanding how these departments work. On indie shoots more often than not the departments blur together out of necessity. During the shooting of the urban movie Consignment we had one person with an assistant doing key hair and make-up while also heading the wardrobe department. These two departments were put together because I knew how they worked and how to bring them together to keep the production moving.

You should learn basic camera shots, angles, and moves. Know what a medium shot is. Know what a reverse-angle shot is. Know what a dolly shot is. Know what a two and three shot are. Pick up 'Film directing Shot By Shot' by Steven D. Katz'. It can provide the technical foundation you will need as a director to help your creative vision come to life. Keep in mind their is only so much you can learn from books.

When you get on set you'll hear terms for shots, like 'cowboy guns' and 'cowboy no guns' not covered in a book. It's a medium shot from the waist up no guns to thigh up guns. People will yell 'Wolf!' which means stop. "Flying in (insert film gear here) means bringing in. No shame in asking what a term means when you do not know. Ignorance is not bliss on a urban film set.

I was a grunt production assistant (PA) acting as a human stop signing controlling traffic with another PA. I got called on the walkie we were rolling and to not let any cars through. I gave the hand signal to the other PA, production had limited walkies, that we were rolling. He nodded knowingly for two takes. During the middle of the third take he let a motorcycle roar through killing the take and getting us both chewed out. I later asked if he missed the signal, he told me he had no idea that signal meant rolling. He never worked on a film before. Asking what the signal meant would have saved us being chewed out.

That story ties into how crucial communication is when your making an urban action movie. You have to be clear to with everyone involved in your film about what you're going to do, what you need, and what you're looking for them to do. People look for this, they expect this from a director. Don't leave cast and crew guessing about what you want. There's never enough time or money to play that game during production. Communication runs two ways. Make sure people can ask you questions if they're not clear on something you said. What might make total sense to you can be lost in the translation as it goes out to the troops.

Accept you're not always going to make the right call on every shot. You're never going to be totally happy with the way some scenes turned out. You'll always want to go back and re-shoot certain scenes again. Fight through it. It might not seem like it during crazy times of filming, but if you have paid attention to the details you will have shot yourself a movie at the end of production. Trust your instincts. I was a nervous wreck after CONSIGNMENT was in the can. I could barely sit down with the editor Tim Beachum to watch the raw footage because my neck and back were seized up with stress.

Sure enough a couple of the camera moves I chose for a few scenes did not turn out like I had envisioned. A few of the calls I made as a director just didn't work. I was a mess, editor Tim Beachum was surprisingly relaxed about it all and talked me down from the proverbial ledge. I was positive the urban movie Consignment was doomed. What saved the day?

A tip I got from an old school Director of Photography (DP) I listened to before shooting. No matter what kind of amazing camera move you want to experiment with to shoot a scene grab at least one take of a master or a standard three shot for coverage in case your wonder shot goes to hell. Turns out the coverage I thought was never going to use because surely my awesome camera moves would work. Some didn't. The extra coverage I grabbed did end up covering my ass in post.

The editor had enough coverage from those few takes to cut the film together without losing continuity. I had spent three or four takes on what I thought were the coolest shots only to end up using the basic takes that worked. The other side of the coin of that is some of the shots I had taken chances on worked beautifully. Nothing like hearing an editor say, 'that was a real pretty shot' or 'loved the way you shot that scene'. So if it all goes to hell with your experimental shots have at least a little standard coverage to get you through. If it comes down to time. Plan ahead to give yourself a take or two with the shot you really want and a take going by the book for coverage

Having a solid sense of how to tell stories using moving pictures and thinking about how a scene will cut together before you yell 'Action!' is a smart. It gives you much more flexibility as a director to be creative, take chances, and experiment with a scene. Knowing the basics how to cover a scene allows you to bend the rules.

Avoid being a paranoid and insecure director. Yes, you have to keep firm control of the shoot because a film directed by committee doesn't work, but there is a fine line between control and paranoia fueled by insecurity. It can quickly turn into on of those possessive relationships where it all goes bad quickly if you go along with it.

I was working on a shoot film in Los Angeles with a director that was wired pretty tight. He asked me once if any of the cast or crew said things about him behind his back. Of course they did. That's what people do. Of course I lied like people do in that situation and said no. He was completely convinced that one of the actors were forgetting their lines on purpose to undermine him and the DP was just waiting to hijack his movie all together. He was wrong. They were talking about what an absolutely paranoid hard on he was.

It all came to ahead when a camera shot wasn't working after numerous takes and the director went off into one of the most colorful profanity laced fits I had ever seen. I mean for a fit it was a beauty to watch. Arms flailing, a prop glass being thrown against the wall like a child, and everything else you expect from a person who lost control. "Why isn't this working?" was the last thing he yelled. The 1st A.D. smartly told everyone to take five while things cooled on set.

The director got himself back together and we took another take that didn't work. We were losing daylight and had a lot of other scenes to shoot to make the day, so the DP suggested a way the shot could work, by using a different camera position and move to get the action the director wanted. Right on cue, the paranoid director completely over reacted. He told the DP to piss off he. He was the director and wasn't going to let him hijack his movie.

The DP cooly said, "stop being so insecure. I'm here to make your movie, not mine." The director blew off the suggestion without a second thought. He never got the shot he wanted to work and scraped the scene from the final cut. Who knows if the DP's suggestion would have worked? It would have made sense to try it considering the other shot wasn't working.

It was a different story on another shoot all together. A friend of mine was directing his first feature. He didn't have a lot of money, but he brought on a DP with a resume an arm long and for the lead this hot B list actress that had some slasher movie credits. He invited me out to visit the set. My friend was a director with energy and drive to spare. He knew exactly what he wanted from everybody on the set. He gave the DP detailed notes, his shot sheet, and they had already gone over in detail the story-boards my friend drew up himself before shooting began. My friend was in total control.

I was looking over his shoulder into the monitor during the crucial shooting of the final scene of the film. He had the actress in this amazing bikini being chased by a knife wielding killer. After the first take there was a problem. The actress ran slower than the actor playing the killer. On the next take he told the actress to speed it up and the actor to slow it down.

Still didn't work. My friend watched the playback with the DP. Then asked the DP what he thought would work to get the shot. The DP got the shot to work by changing the blocking and moving the camera. My friend got the shot and the ending he wanted because he was secure enough as a director to utilize his DP, not neutralize him.

Those two experiences really gave me some perspective on getting through directing a movie. During CONSIGNMENT I ran into a major problem that threatened to cost us shooting a crucial murder scene. We had been working all night and instead of chasing daylight we were trying to beat it. We had a shooting scene that had to be shot before the sun came up, we had about an hour of night left, and there was no option to push the scene.

We were losing that location for good after we wrapped. After a couple less than stellar takes I turned to my DP Royce Dudley. We have to make this work, we can't lose this scene I said. I took the actors through a last minute rehearsal without rolling on the camera to see if I could cover the scene a different way. Royce stood back like he did sometimes watching. After the walk through rehearsal he said, "I can get your scene" and he did. Thanks Royce!

On the IN WITH THIEVES shoot I brought back an actor from CONSIGNMENT I really enjoyed working with named Jerome Hawkins.
I write and direct my own movies, so I get really involved in not only the action, but that the lines are delivered the way I want them. So here we are shooting a scene, when Jerome tells me he's really feeling adding something to a line, keep in mind this movie is my baby, but I felt his vibe. I gave him one take to run with it his way. The line he added to close the dialogue was great. We added it to the script and kept it in the movie. Did I feel he was under-minding me? No. I was secure enough as a director to let an actor I respected contribute creatively to the movie.

These last couple of stories might seem to go against what I said about not directing by committee, taking chances that don't always work, and keeping control of your movie. I still feel that a movie can't get done right when you have a weak director who listens to everyone on what their movie should end up looking like. I still feel you can't be afraid to take chances on shots that don't end up working. I still feel you have to keep control of your movie. It's one thing to be overly paranoid about someone hijacking your movie, but it's equally destructive to you as a director to cave in when someone is trying to tell you how to do your job as a director.

You also don't want to become so completely narrow minded that you can't brainstorm with your key production personal to problem solve, work creatively with your DP to see your vision materialize, allow your talent to spread their wings from time to time in a scene, or see when you need to be open minded enough to change the way you're shooting a scene so that it can work. You surrounded yourself with a good team let them help you make your movie. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well it takes a production team to make a movie.

it will always be your overall vision behind the way a movie will turn out, but being open to collaboration with your cast and crew creates a more positive set. You don't want mindless robots going through the motions. You want fired up people eager to lend you all their talents to make your movie rock. Don't let your ego get in the way of you seeing the big picture.

Some myths I do not buy into about being a director.

You're not a real director if you don't shoot on film. Once you've completed a shoot on any format you're a real director.

A director needs to know how to light scenes. The more you know about any aspect of film production the better, but if you don't know about lighting a scene you can still direct. What I do is make notes on the look, feel, and mood I see in my head for each scene. I pass that along to the DP so we can discuss how to make it happen. I also like to suggest to the DP DVD's to rent with scenes I feel lighting wise are close to what I'm going after. Your DP is the master of light. He'll deliver the lighting set ups you need.

The director needs to know how to run the camera. Not true. It's very possible you will never touch the camera once during a shoot. I myself for the most part watch through a monitor. I do look through the camera after the DP has set the frame for the shot, but I rarely run it.

It's easier to direct a low budget indie movie than a mainstream Hollywood movie. Wrong. Directing a low budget indie or a Hollywood blockbuster both have their own challenges for a director to numerous to list. In the end you still have to be able to tell a good story using pictures. It's never easy.

A director sits in video village all day while everyone else works. I wish that was true. A director has to be on top of everything going on during shooting. They deal with the actors, check with camera and sound to make sure there were no problems with the take, and put out a dozen other fires that pop up.

Some ideas I do buy into as a director.

Never let anyone give your actors direction or notes, unless they are coming directly from you. You're the director It's your role and your role alone to work with actors to get the performances you want. No one else should ever be allowed to work with the actors. One time I was on a roof looking at a scene. I didn't like the way the blocking was playing out, so I walkied the 1st A.D. some directions to pass along to the actors. That's as far as I felt comfortable having people work with talent.

It's your set and you should be the only one to yell CUT! I had an actor once in the middle of the take turn to the camera and say cut because they flubbed a line. It wasn't their call, it's not anyones call but the director. They were warned and when it happened again they were released from the movie.

The director is the driving force behind a movie. Nobody is going to care as much about your movie as you do. You have to keep everyone pumped up and on track to finish a movie. You want your passion for what you're shooting as a director to be contagious on the set.

A director needs to be able to be secure enough to listen and collaborate with cast and crew. This is not directing by committee but having the leadership ability to fully maximize everyone's talents. Your movie can only turn out better because of it.

You have to be a cheerleader and a salesmen. When things are not going well on set you need to be able to keep morale up. After a rough day of shooting I let everyone know what a great job they were doing and how excited I was by the dailies I looked at each night. I had to keep them excited about the movie now, not when they would get paid a week later. The next toughest thing is keeping people going after you've hit 12 hours.

You have to sell them on your ability as a director to not only finish the movie, but turn out a good one that people will want their names attached to in the credits. You would be surprised how many people worked on a movie for credit only and the movie never got done or turned out terrible. Let them know you're not that director. If they stick with you and dig a little deeper you will put out a good film.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/urban-movies-rise-with-solid-direction-206497.html

The Misunderstandings of Downloading Movies

2007-10-04T04:38:00.000-07:00

By: Isaiah Henry

If you think downloading movies is illegal and difficult and only for teenagers, think again. While there are still lots of illegal downloading out there, there are many services which permit you to download movies either for free or for a small fee, with the permission of the major movie companies.

With fans around the world interested in movies, the big bosses at the movie studios came to realized that download movies is the future, and began to create their own movie services with all the licenses to remain legal.

If you are not like your brainy internet wiz child, then it may a take few movies to get the feel the movie download applications. But after a day or two, you will probably find it as easy as browsing the internet.

You will need a high speed connection. If you are still on dial up, it is not recommended that you...attempt to download movies because the file size is so large. Most movies are 600 MB or more. You will need a high speed cable or ADSL connection.

Movie Subscription sites

Be careful choosing a service. Many Internet sites offer access to a library of movies for a monthly fee. Be sure to check their library before signing up! Some services have dramatically better libraries than others. Most services have a free trial period as well so that you can test their service before you commit.

Movie services usually give you several extras with downloaded movies. To name a few, youll receive bonuses like extra scenes, commentaries, interviews & more. This is a lot more than the average video or movie rental store would offer.

In my opinion, there are too many movie services on the internet. So you will have to do some digging to guarantee that select the right service. You may be surprise in the range of prices from a one-time fee of $14.00 to $29.95 per monthly subscription service.

Yet look on the bright side, movie selections are ever increasing on weekly basis. This will ensure you have enough movies to watch on your free time.

Monthly movie subscription services have extensive HELP and customer support available. If you feel unsure about dealing with the technical aspect of downloading movies, this is the best way to go. Their technical support staff will walk you through everything.

All movie sites provide you with the movie manager to download & watch movies and even organize your collection.

Below are common questions on downloading movies:

1) Is movie downloading illegal? Definitely not, but make sure to do your homework first. Do not download copyright material from p2p movie sites.

2) Are movie downloads just like DVDs in quality? Most movies are of high quality, but some sites provide movies various formats that may range in quality.

3) Are pay-per-download movie sites file-sharing? NO. Movie subscription sites are totally different. Movie subscription sites operate with the permission of the movie companies and are completely legal.

4) Do I have to watch it on my computer? NO. You can burn the movie file to a DVD, and watch it on your television. This does require that you have a DVD burner, which is pretty standard on most computers.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

The Five Best Halloween Movies Ever

2007-10-02T04:37:00.000-07:00

By: Jon Murray

First of all I want to distinguish between the best horror movies and the best Halloween movies. I think I have a good example. Jaws is an excellent horror movie, but a poor Halloween movie. The chances of a huge great white attacking you in the dark on Halloween is pretty minimal, unless you live on a boat. An example of a good horror movie for Halloween would be a movie like "The Shining" as insanity is always scary.

To decide what are the best Halloween movies we must first come up with some criteria. Certainly they must be scary... and not in a "Jaws" kind of way. If they have some sort of fog in them, that would be cool and of course there should be an element of the macabre. Here are my top 5 Halloween movies and why.

5. How can you pick the top five Halloween movies without including Halloween on the list. I'll take the original 1978 version with a very young Jamie Lee Curtis in it. Michael Myers has become a horror legend since this movie.

"Brutal, emotionless Michael Myers stabs his sister to death at age six on Halloween night in 1963; on October 30, 1978, he escapes from a mental institution and institutes a new reign of terror in his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois. He is pursued the whole time by a psychiatrist (Donald Pleasence) who knows just how evil this young man is."

4. You cannot have a top 5 list without Phycho being on it. Norman Bates has become somewhat of a horror legend and the shower scene was unmatched in it's day. The suspense using music and imagery that Hitchcock brings to this movie is amazing and the perfect casting of Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates finishes it. Alfred Hitchcock deserves to be on this list and if I was listing by scary movie directors he would be #1. Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window all stick out in my mind as some of the best ever.

3. Wolf Creek sits at #3 in my list. Many of you will probably second guess this one, but for some reason this movie really got to me. Maybe it's the torture scene, but for some reason I found this movie much more disturbing than the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes and other movies which are meant to terrorize us.

2. Friday the 13th. This one is especially scary for those of us who like camping or cottaging. The thought that some nut is out there in a hockey mask waiting for us in the dark is what makes campfire stories so compelling.

1. Everyone has their favourites and reasons why. I believe that horror movies you watched as a young child have more of an effect on you than ones watched as an adult. I can name 4 or 5 that I've watched this year which are scarier than 1973's "The Exorcist", but in it's day The Exorcist was probably the scariest movie made. Scenes from it still sick in my mind to the point that even parody's of it still creep me out.

In my honorable mention category I have movies like Saw, Hostel, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining (of course) and many others too numerous to mention. This Halloween, pick up some scary movies and watch them with friends. Happy Halloween!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/the-five-best-halloween-movies-ever-218358.html

Movie Gift Baskets to Go?

2007-09-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

By: Brian Connors

What is a weapon in the arsenal of gift giving possibilities that could win you Academy Awards for ingenuity, thoughtfulness and outstanding entertainment? Movie gifts is this option that can be yours to send out for any occasion or situation that merits the action of giving on your part.

So when would this strategy be appropriate for you to put into action? Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations come to mind at first. These events...can be celebrated by granting those you know exactly what they desire with a good flick and added goodies.

Movie gifts could also be used to cheer up those under the weather that you know of who need a jolt of healthy good wishes. Why not put a dose of emotion, adventure and imagination with a personal message of healing? Its impact will be felt by the one that needs your strength and encouragement now more than ever.

Need to send your gratitude to someone who is a cinema buff? Movie gifts can advertise your thankfulness to that person in no uncertain terms. You will have given the lucky benefactor of your generosity something to look forward to and treasure forever.

Want to know the best way to grant someone this type of entertaining present? Care to find a way to send popcorn, cookies and other movie theater treats along with a Blockbuster gift card giving them their choice of films to watch? The answer is Movie Gift Baskets that can give all of this and more!

There’s your answer as far as what to give. The next question, however, is where to find them and how to get them into the hands of the one that you wish to make happy. Fortunately, the solution can be easy and painless with the use of a little technology known as the internet. How so?

Go to Google, Yahoo or whichever search engine that you desire and plug in keywords or keyword phrases that would fit your desired end. Examples would be “movie gifts” or a more specific “movie gift baskets” to get a selection of websites from which to choose your selection. Find the right one within your budget and you are almost done. The next step is to have it mailed to the right destination.

Just use your typing skills to let the Movie Gifts website know who and where to send it to and by when. Make a safe credit card payment and your mission has been completed. No traffic congestion driving to the mall and back. No competition for parking space. No wading through herds of other people to try to find the right movie gifts item that might not even be available. No wasting gas going to and from. There is a multitude of other reasons but I’m confident that you get my point.

Try movie gift baskets as a way to send the right message in the most time and sanity efficient way. Make yourself an instant star in someone’s life today!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/movie-gift-baskets-to-go-219705.html

Movies, Movies, Movies In Your Own Home Movie Theater

2007-09-20T05:47:00.001-07:00

By Nicholas Tan

We all love to go to the movie theater to relax after a long day of work. Even if you need to tide traffics jams to go to the movie theater, you are willing to endure this to be able to watch a movie. The sight and sound of a movie theater is what makes us go back there every so often. We easily get lost in the movie scene because of the bigger than life pictures and surround sound that takes you there beside the characters in the movie. This may prove to be costly in the end but we continue... to do this because we love to go to movie theaters and see movies.

If you can bring home a movie theater, it will be good and I am sure you will love the idea. However, before you say no, think again. Going to the movie theaters every single day is definitely costly in the long run. Additionally, if you know the basic components of a home movie theater, you may not think twice and will definitely leave right now to acquire your own home movie theater.

A complete setup of a movie theater in a big room is definitely only accessible to the rich and the famous. However, if you have meager budget, you can have the home movie theater for yourself knowing the basic components and setting up the home movie theater in a smaller room. You may convert you den to a home theater room. You only need the three basic components and you may already enjoy watching movies with no limit.

If you have a television set, which I know you do, that is about 27 inches, you run away spending for the first major component of your home movie theater. The second major component, which I think you have, is the DVD player. If your DVD Player has progressive scan that is wonderful, however, even without progressive scan, your DVD player may work as the second component for your home movie theater.

The final piece of the puzzle, which I want you to spend on, is the home theater speakers. You need three high-quality home theater speakers for your home movie theater. You need to place one on the right side, one on the left side and one on the rear center of the room.

These are the three basic components of your home movie theater. You may now start enjoying unlimited movie and enjoy watching movies with your whole family. I am sure you will agree with me that this is the best part of owning your own home movie theater.

The set up for your home movie theater with the three basic components is the best perfect setup for small rooms. However, if you have a bigger room for your home movie theater, I am sure you have a bigger budget for your home theater. Then you may want to consider the recommendation of home theater experts, you may add more speakers up to six home theater speakers and may need to compliment it with subwoofer to maintain the surround sound effect for your home movie theater.

If you want a bigger picture, you may want to consider buying a home theater projector. You may also acquire home theater seating and television cabinet if you want to compliment the home theater design to make up a complete package for your home entertainment. All these additions to the basic components may be necessary if you have a bigger room. If the room is smaller, then you may only need the three basic components for your home movie theater.

Having to be able to bring home the sight and sound you run after in movie theaters may be very efficient and less costly. Aside form the fact that you enjoy life with your family beside you watching movies after movies in your very own home movie theater.

Article Source: http://www.amazines.com

Trekker Versus Trekkie: the Controversy

2007-09-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

By: Fran Black

So what is the difference between a trekker and a trekkie? The short answer is: nothing. According to Wikipedia, the all-knowing, on-line encyclopedia, both terms denote a fan of the Star Trek science fiction franchise. So why all the controversy between the two? I once heard that fans of the original series were called trekkers, while those of the Next Generation were trekkies, but I have since learned it’s not as simple as that. The difference, it turns out, has nothing to do with the actual meaning of the terms, but with the connotations associated... with them. Taking this into consideration, it’s largely a matter of preference which label you prefer.

The Star Trek fan base is, after all a widely diverse group. Attending a convention, you will see young and old, male and female, from all walks of life. The ideology of Star Trek captures the interest of more than science and technology “geeks.” I’ve known well-educated professionals to don a uniform and attend a convention as enthusiastically as the pop-culture groupie. Can one term describe them all?

Apparently not. In the late 1960s, science fiction editor Art Saha used the word “Trekkies” to describe a group of early fans who were wearing pointy Vulcan ears at a science fiction convention. The label caught on, although some devotees felt it sounded too much like “crazies” and preferred to call themselves trekkers. To a trekker, the term trekkies creates images of fanatics struggling to distinguish between reality and fiction.

Our friends at the USS Dauntless (http://members.tripod.com/~learnb/dauntless/recdeck.htm), a web-site devoted to Star Trek trivia, makes these comparisons between the two:

A Trekker wears a STARFLEET uniform to a convention because its fun…
A Trekkie wears a uniform to a convention because s/he has heard that it is in style at the academy.

A Trekker has a STARFLEET Academy window sticker on his car…
A Trekkie is cramming for the entrance exams.

A Trekker thinks Wil Wheaton was a lucky kid who got to play a kid on Star Trek…
A Trekkie thinks that Wesley Crusher was a lucky kid who got to sit on the bridge.

A Trekker thinks that it is a shame that the show is coming to an end…
A Trekkie thinks that it is a shame that the crew is being reassigned and the Enterprise is being decommissioned.

A Trekker knows that there are gaping holes in the technology, but ignores them and enjoys the show…
A Trekkie can't wait for the price to come down on those home food replicator units.”

Those self-identified trekkies, however, have their own fodder to fling. They associate the term trekkers with pretentious nuts obsessed over minutiae and details. Moreover, they accuse ‘trekkers’ of being too ashamed to admit they are ‘trekkies.’ Apparently this camp has the good graces of Gene Roddenbury, the creator of Star Trek. According to his former assistant, Richard Arnold, Gene Roddenbury spoke during a convention and used the term trekkie. Someone attempted to correct him, to which he responded, “Excuse me, did you say 'TrekkER?' The word is 'TrekkIE.' I should know, I created them." (http://www.trekdoc.com/database/fanfeed/1.htm)

And so the question still rings, trekkers or trekkies? What is the correct term of usage? My advice? When labeling any group of people, political correctness rules the day. Just to play it safe, maybe use “Star Trek enthusiast.”

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/trekker-versus-trekkie-the-controversy-211980.html

Filmcrave.com Lets Regular Folks Review Movies

2007-09-17T04:06:00.000-07:00

By: Josh Collins

Everybody's got an opinion about movies, but only the pros get to offer their critique. At least, that's the way it seemed to the founders of FilmCrave.com — a start-up website that challenges that notion the pros know what's best. "We were just three guys out of college who really liked talking about movies," said cofounder/ designer Josh Collins. "But when we tried to join rottentomatoes.com [an association of professional movie reviewers], we found our opinions weren't welcome."

"I thought, 'This is ridiculous. There should be a place where everyone can share reviews.' But that place didn't exist yet. So we decided to make it," said Collins.

Filmcrave, which launched its beta edition on August 1st, has thousands of movies in its database, making it easy for users to search out flicks, rate or review them. But the site is more than just a place to post comments: it's also a social networking site, much like MySpace, where users can create Top Movie lists, meet new people and maintain their own profiles.

"It's much easier [to use] than MySpace," says cofounder/designer Alex Olson, "And it fulfills a unique niche on the web. No one else is mixing movie content with a MySpace social networking feel the way we are."

Filling this niche should make the site a huge success, cofounder/developer Nick Barry believes. While there are other movie related sites, none of them make user interaction their primary aim, said Barry. "Some even seem to be more like an online store than a community."

The three friends expect the online community to grow exponentially — and continue to thumb their noses at the critics.

"Professional movie reviewers are the lapdogs of the entertainment industry," said Collins. "Those who generate the best hype are treated
to fancy tid-bits and allowed to cozy up with beautiful people. It's a club, and until now, none of us were invited."

Early test users of the site agreed. "That's why sites like this one are so important: everyone has access to the clubhouse," said Christopher Hemann. "It's like the angry mob with pitchforks at the gates of Hollywood exclusive neighborhoods. NO MORE ABOMINATIONS! WE'RE NOT PEASANTS — WE'RE UNPLEASANTS!"

The site is already generating intense enthusiasm, Barry says. And — who knows? — with the influence the internet is already having on movie making, maybe Hollywood will hear the roar.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/filmcravecom-lets-regular-folks-review-movies-213833.html

Current Top 5 Movies!

2007-09-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Every quarter I will provide a list of recommended movies based on what you the avid movie fan has been buying from well-known retailer Amazon recently. It is not an exact science but I am able to get a good indication from new releases on popular films listed at Amazon. I have my very own Amazon-based store right here, with an exhaustive database of movie titles to choose from. If you were to purchase one of the top 5 recommended movies I would receive a small comission, which will pay for hosting and design enhancements. Now for the movies:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Gangster Movies: America's Love Affair With the Bad Guy

2007-09-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

By: Jay Smith

No matter how much we like to see the good guy triumph in the end and those who have committed crimes be punished for them, we can never quite shake off that sneaking enjoyment that comes from bad guys doing what they do and being good at it! Gangster movies have been a part of American cinema from the beginning and by taking a quick look at the genre, we definitely can see why. The two movies that are considered the grandfathers of this film genre are Little Caeser, starring Edward G. Robinson and Public Enemy, starring James Cagney. In both of these films, the gangsters get their comeuppance, but often, that's not what the audience remembers. In Little Caeser, you remember the scenes of Robinson's character Rico living it up in the lap of luxury and in Public Enemy, you fondly remember Tom Powers, played by Cagney doing a delighted little two step on a public street when a girl smiles at him.

Gangsters in Hollywood come in a variety of different flavors and Al Pacino has played two extremely different archetypes. In the Godfather movies, he is the elegant and doomed Michael Corleone, the war hero who got dragged reluctantly into the family business, while in Scarface, he plays the crazed killer Tony Montana, a Cuban who rose from immigrant to drug kingpin. Both of these characters were (in very different ways) extremely charismatic and its easy to see how we're drawn to them.

There are also quite a few movies that pay homage to the classic gangster movies, or satirize them, depending on your point of view. The prime time show, The Sopranos, features a modern day organized crime association where the members are quietly and sometimes not so quietly obsessed with Goodfellas and The Godfather and will quote them at any opportunity. Brick, a movie about love and death in high school, was heavily influenced by the classic Miller's Crossing in terms of tone and language.

The story of the gangster can be seen as the American Dream that is played in fast-forward. It usually starts with a young boy looking for a way out of poverty and with some luck and some help, he makes it to the top. Maybe that's the appeal of the gangster genre, and maybe that's why we're so willing to forgive the things they do to get there.

Don't look for a morality lesson when you watch gangster movies. You'll end up rooting for the wrong guy and when he inevitably gets what's coming to him, you'll be annoyed and disappointed. Gangsters top the charts in charisma, but their life expectancy and chances for lasting happiness are practically nil.

Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com

Budgeting a Film From Experience

2007-09-13T04:16:00.000-07:00

By: Ray James

Preparing a film budget can be very tricky and time consuming. First you need to breakdown the script to even start thinking about the budget.

1. How many actors do you need? How many days do you need them? Are you using SAG actors? Are you paying them a daily, weekly, or buy-out rate?

2. How many locations do you need? Is there travel involved?

3. How big of a crew do you need? Do you need a Director of Photography and a Camera Operator? How many people do you need in your Art Department? Do you really need 3 Electrics and 3 Grips? Is Craft Service needed? What should I expect to pay each crew person? Will there be overtime?

4. How and what are your feeding your actors and crew?

5. Can I afford the effects? Do I need to hire an Effects Supervisor?

6. How much am I getting paid? How much am I worth? How much do I deserve?

7. What about equipment? Am I shooting film, HD, or DV? Can I afford film processing?

8. How long should I expect Post-Production to be? What about finishing and delivery?

9. Do I need to budget for festivals?

10. Is this budget realistic?

These are only a few of the questions you should be asking yourself. My feature feature was difficult and I was determined to make it for $3,000. I pulled in a lot of favors and ultimately I should have spent more time developing the script, but it was only a $3,000 lesson.

You may think ONLY a $3,000 lesson? I consider it money well spent. I learn a lot about budgeting, prepping, shooting, and finishing a feature film. Well, not finishing. Like I said, I should have spent more time on the script and the film sits on an external hard drive in my closet. But, had I not been determined to stick to my budget it could have been a lot worse. Thankfully, it was my money and not someone else's.

When I shot this film, I had gone to film school and worked as a 1st AD for a few years. I knew enough to prepare the production budget, but I was clueless about the post-production, which I ended up doing myself.

As I prepared the budget for my $1 million feature, I knew I needed help. I not only learned more about script development, but I also needed to know more about post-production. After spending several days at Barnes & Noble, I found my saving grace "Film & Video Budgets" by Michael Wiese.

I have prepared over fifty budgets since and I always keep it by my side for easy reference.

Helpful tip: Go big and you can always cut your way back to a reasonable number. It can hurt, but it's better to start with everything that way you want it and make compromises.

About the Author: Ray James, a 15-year film, television, and internet industry vet and contributor to Get Your Film Funded. Also, a freelance writer for several other websites including, ElectionBook.com and 1764ent.com - Caribbean Travel for Men.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/budgeting-a-film-from-experience-208784.html

Home theater, experience the entertainment of movie theaters right in your own living room.

2007-09-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

By: Nicholas Tan

The cinema is a good place to watch movies and relax. This is because you watch the movie in a wide screen with sound that can make you easily get lost in the movie scene. The picture and the sound is the most entertaining part of the cinema experience. However, if you can bring this technology home and with lesser expense, this is definitely something you will enjoy.

This is the concept only a few American homes acquire in the past years. Lately late, however, a good number of American homes are starting to be less interested... in going out of their abode to watch movies. This is due to the evolution of home theater system.

A simple home theater is easy to set up. All you need is a television set that measure bigger than 27 inches, a DVD player and three speakers. These are the basic components of a home theater. This may already give you the home entertainment you can enjoy with the almost theatrical experience. Why do I say almost, when I am sure you want the perfect feeling of a movie theater.

This is because there are other equipments you might add to complete the home theater experience that will ensure a cinematic experience right in your own living room. As mentioned already, you may still enhance the three basic components by adding home entertainment furniture; however, everything is dependent on the budget you set for your home theater. The size of the room is another consideration of the complete package of your home theater.

A neat advice however by home theater experts is that you need to find a good size television set for you home theater set up. A good size does not mean the biggest you can find in the store. A good size television is dependent on the place in your house where you will set up the home theater. Big is not always good for you home entertainment system. It is a recommendation, however, that the television set should not be smaller than 27 inches. This is because the projection on a smaller television might be too inferior for your home theater.

Another recommendation is for you to find speakers that will give you the surround sound from high quality brand of speakers. In addition, you need to be sure that if you do not find the speaker that gives you enough surround sound, you need to be able to return it. There are speakers that sound good in the store but when you put it in a room, it may not sound well enough that will satisfy your requirement. If the store allows replacement, then that is a good deal. In addition, you may need to choose a good quality DVD player. It is however a belief by home theater experts that all DVD players deliver clear and crisp images, although there are those that promise a flicker-free picture, almost all DVD players provide this feature.

Knowing how big the room where you will set up your home theater will be the basis of how big the television needs to be. The size of the room is another consideration for the number of speakers. If the room is somewhat big, you may need more than the basic three speakers. Adding a subwoofer may also do good to achieve the best surround sound if your home theater is place on a huge room.

All these will give you the best home theater experience only a few in the earlier year’s experience. A home theater designer may be of big help in ensuring you will have the best home theater set up that will give you the best possible movie experience right in your own living room.

Article Source: http://www.amazines.com

Get Free PSP Movies

2007-09-08T04:12:00.000-07:00

By: Jeremy Liner

The Sony Playstation Portable, PSP, is one of the best selling video game systems for a very specific reason. Sure, it has great graphics and is portable, but you can also do many things with it - you can watch movies, play music & much more!

But, because it's such a small system, you can't just pop a DVD into it to watch a PSP movie, you do have to buy special discs that are made just for the PSP system. So, because of this you can expect to spend $20 or more for every PSP movie you buy!

And, these movies can only be watched... on PSP, no other system. So, unlike DVDs which can be very versatile, your PSP movie can only be watched on the PSP - this starts to make the idea of buying PSP movies very expensive!

That is at least until there was a way discovered to be able to just download all the psp movies you want and put them right on your system (and the memory card). Not only movies, but games, music and much more!

Now you no longer have to pay $20 or more for the PSP movies, you can simply download them using a special software right onto your PSP and you're good to go.

Downloading PSP Movies

For starters you need to actually find the file on the internet (the PSP movie you want to watch). You have 2 options here, you can either spend hours going through the entire internet trying to find it or you can use a simple site such as PSPNerd which will connect you almost instantly.

The way these download sites work is by allowing you to do a targeted search through a very specific network (that the company has researched and fonud for you). On this network, you can find any PSP movie you want.

Then you simply download that PSP movie file onto your computer and connect your computer to your PSP. Using a free software that comes with the site you can now transfer that file over to your PSP and you're done!

The entire process can be fairly quick and will save you from spending $20 per file!

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Digital Imaging: the Death of Film?

2007-09-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

By: Adam Singleton

If the pattern of adoption for digital imaging currently happening in the USA is repeated in the UK, then it could sound the death knell for traditional film. Between May 2006 and May 2007 the volume of digital photos prints produced in the USA grew by a staggering 34%, with online photo services seeing an 80% rise in popularity, according to the Photo Marketing Association International.

Technical innovation has been credited with the shift from film to digital, in particular the growth of high speed Web access, which makes uploading images so much faster. With well over half of all web users... in the UK now on broadband uploading here is just as fast and simple as in the US and usage is expected to rise in line with the American uptake.

However, digital imaging prints are just half the story, with sales of traditional film cameras completing the picture. Over the same period as the rise in digital imaging print production, sales in traditional film cameras have fallen 49%, while digital camera sales rose 5% over the same period, with nearly nine out of ten digital cameras offering resolutions in excess of 6million megapixels. Affordable 10 million megapixel cameras are now retailing at less than half of the price that they were two years ago; combined with the fact that shutter speeds and specifications have improved, this has made digital cameras a real alternative to film. Plus the cost savings of using digital imagery cannot be underestimated. Rather than waste several rolls of expensive film to get that one elusive shot, with digital cameras any picture not up to scratch can simply be deleted after being reviewed on screen.

Another attraction of the switch from film to digital is that the storage of digital images is becoming much easier. Many new computers are equipped with much bigger storage capacity on their hard drives, or if not big enough then storage devices such as USB pens or USB hard drives can be plugged in, allowing for the increased storage of treasured images. In addition many websites offer online vaults meaning that pictures that would have taken up valuable hard drive space can now be stored online and accessed through the web.

Of course, there is always the old-fashioned way; home photo development is extremely easy now with home-printing equipment available with most cameras, while there are also many instant print booths in photo shops, supermarkets and chemists.

With the ease of use, uploading and storage of images and tumbling prices of high quality digital cameras it is easy to see why digital photography is taking America by storm. It is only a matter of time before it happens here in the UK.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/digital-imaging-the-death-of-film-209990.html

The Most Overacting Actors: Take a Little Drama Off The Top

2007-09-07T05:56:00.000-07:00

By: Jennifer Jordan

There are people in life who are exceptional actors, actors who could make you believe just about anything. Then, there are actors who aren't necessarily horrible, but their tendency to overact makes them about as believable as the Easter Bunny. Take myself, for instance, I am an overactor. I can't appear in front of an audience without overacting. I can't even stretch the truth without being completely dramatic. For me, it's a shame: I like to be on stage….and I really like to lie.

I am not alone in my tendency to overact. Our television and movie screens are filled with overacting men and women (and sometimes dogs (seriously Benji, let's tone down the whimpering)), overacting actors who... take drama and make it a little too dramatic. The following is our list for the Most Overacting Actors, those who need a script for a chill pill.

David Caruso, CSI: David Caruso was good on NYPD Blue (good for all five minutes he was a cast member), but there is just something about his role in CSI that makes me want to slip him a Xanaz. With his deep voice, perpetually sunglassed face, and a tendency to speak a little too slowly and articulate a little too much, Caruso makes CSI raise the intensity level. But, then again, maybe that's the point.

Vincent D'Onofrio, Criminal Intent: Like David Caruso, I have really liked Vincent D'Onofrio in his previous work (Mystic Pizza forever, Vinnie), but he maintains a very obscure quality on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. In scenes where he is undercover as a married man, he comes across as gay, in scenes where he is supposed to pretend he is on the criminal's side, he comes across as patronizing, and in scenes where he is supposed to be happy…well, frankly, ya just can't tell. He nearly appears to be one emotion, all the time.

Tom Cruise: Hopefully, he can handle the truth. It isn't that I think Tom Cruise is horrible at acting, he just doesn't make certain roles all that believable. Well, that and he plays seemingly the same guy in most of his films. He's fine in movies like Top Gun or Risky Business (i.e., movies where he just needs to smile pretty for the camera), but could he pull off a role like Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman? No way. Oh well, at least he always has Scientology to fall back on…or whatever.

William Shatner, Star Trek: Though I absolutely love him in Boston Legal, he makes this list for his role in Star Trek. Sorry Willie, you've been beamed up. In this science fiction series, he became known for narration laden in drama and odd, long pauses………………….yes, kind of like that. Though this overacting is often parodied, you have to give Shatner credit: his acting style thrives in comedic roles and he looks pretty darn good for his age.

Keanu Reeves: First of all, let me apologize to all the Bill and Ted lovers out there. You're right, that movie was, in a word, excellent. In fact, I believe that was one of Keanu's best jobs as an actor. I don't assert this because he gave a heartfelt performance or because the role he played was on par with Jack Nicholson's Randle Patrick McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I say this instead because it was one role where he wasn't overwhelmingly stoic; it was a role that made him real. Did we believe that he was a high school slacker about to be sent to military school? Yes. Did we believe he was "the one" who could save the human race from slavery? Uh, not really.

Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com

The Tintin Movie - Kirsten Myburgh To Play Tintin

2007-09-06T05:49:00.000-07:00

By: Sosthène Sassou-Nguesso

The Tintin movie rumour mill is starting to crank up. The biggest amount of speculation is who is set t play Tintin. Kirsten Myburgh has been linked to the lead role for a while. There have been many actors linked to the Tintin character. The Tintin movie to be directed by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson is going to be big box office. The Tintin movie trilogy is due to be completed by 2009. Jackson and Spielberg are producing the three Tintin movies back to back to cut cost and speed up the film making process as Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings.

Whoever gets the lead role will see his stock rose on a seen with Daniel Radcliffe who through... the Harry Potter series became recognised around the world. Kirsten Myburgh like Daniel Radcliffe before Harry Potter isn’t known by the movie going public at large. He is an actor whos only credit we could find was in a film called Garden Party that was completed early this year.

It is fair to say he has all the requirements that make him an ideal choice with his natural red hair and he is the looks the right age for the role (Tintin fans estimate that Herge created a young man who’s age is between 15 and 18 years old). The chances are that if he has been linked with the role then there maybe some truth behind the rumour. The fact surrounding the Tintin movie are had to pin down as there has been a lot of secrecy. It will be interesting to see how this story develops.

Article Source

The Future of Online Movie Rental

2007-09-06T04:27:00.000-07:00

By: Christine Peppler

Since 1999, movie fans have had the luxury of selecting movies for viewing from the comfort of their home computer and then receiving them at their door through the mail.
Online movie rental services allow users a huge selection and affordable prices as well as convenience. Perhaps the only drawback to these services has been the wait between returning movies and receiving the next ones in the queue.

It appears that those movie fans who prefer more immediate gratification may soon see the method of movie delivery begin shifting in their favor. Netflix has announced on their website that they are beginning to phase in electronic delivery of movies to their subscribers. Switching service over to internet delivery exclusively will... take a number of years as the online movie rental service has over 80,000 titles to its credit and the readiness of many consumers and the film industry is still a step behind. However, some current subscribers will begin seeing at least 1,000 titles available for immediate viewing in January 2007 with additional subscribers having the service added each week through the end of June 2007.

In its infancy, the new Netflix "Watch Now" feature will allow viewing of movies on personal computers/laptops that have a high speed connection and a Microsoft Windows operating system. However, the company reports that the future goal is to make their movies available on all internet connected screens; for instance on cell phones, iPods and computers with Apple OS.

The electronic delivery offered by Netflix offers some advantages over many download services as it is a real-time playback technology and allows viewers to begin viewing films as they are received versus waiting for the download to occur. Although meeting the demand for greater immediacy is a primary advantage to the Netflix "Watch Now" option, some convenience features will be welcomed by subscribers as well. After a 60 second browser applet installation, subscribers will even be able to pause and move forward within films using a simple position bar, giving viewers greater control.

Current subscribers to the Netflix online movie rental service will have access to view up to 48 hours of films per month on the internet streaming service based on the plan in which they participate; the more films per month included in their plan, the more streamed movies they will be able to view. There is no additional charge for viewing streamed movies versus those delivered through the traditional mail method.

Obviously, this news offers current Netflix customers a great new option for getting movies delivered into their home. For those who aren't current customers it certainly demonstrates that the future of online movie rental is firmly headed in the direction of electronic delivery.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

How the Adult Film Industry Has Changed Over the Past 75 Years

2007-09-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

By: Ron Steigel

The adult entertainment industry, like every branch of the entertainment business as a whole, has undergone significant changes over the past 75 years. With the development of new technologies, entertainment went from early photographs, movies, and live performance to media streaming to a global audience.

Several scientists claim to have invented the radio, including Jagadish Chandra Bose, Alexander Stepanovich Popov, Nikola Tesla whom the US Supreme Court eventually recognized as the inventor of radio, and Guglielmo Marconi. The earliest film was produced in Leeds, Yorkshire in 1888, and the first film... projector came into being around 1895. Early films were silent until 1927, when synchronized sound and film made its famous debut in the feature film The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson. Early electromechanical televisions were invented by 1884, although the strictly electronic models did not come into wide use until much later. Color television was known by 1940, but because of the war, expansion of the technology was placed on hold until 1945, and color televisions were not available to the public until 1954.

Starting with these humble beginnings, different media were developed for the storing of audio and video projects. Vinyl records to 8-tracks, then cassettes and DAT, then a big jump to CDs and DVDs and eventually streaming on the Internet. The relative affordability and easy use of home computers put the digital world at the fingertips of many worldwide. The Internet represented a huge jump in technology that enabled easy worldwide distribution of all manner of entertainment, including adult entertainment. Along with the use of film editing software that can be purchased for use on home computers and high-resolution digital cameras that are compatible with personal computers, anyone can make a movie that is quite high quality in appearance.

This has led to a huge increase in the number of independent films that have been and continue to be produced today. Because, unlike earlier days where a movie studio had to green-light your script in order for you to have access to all of their equipment to make a film, anyone with an idea for a film can go out and with easily accessible equipment can create a film on his or her own. Certainly, this has helped to spur many small production companies that were free to produce any kind of niche films they wished, such as adult films. With new technology comes adult video on demand sites such as All Adult Channel where you can select and watch video and clip content either through streaming content viewed in real time, or by downloading movies directly to your computer. There are also porn mega sites like All Sites Access.

Films are also much more accessible because you can view one anywhere there is a computer. With the advent of new technology, you can now also watch adult films on cell phones and video I-pods, making movies very portable. Erotic films are easily accessed via the Internet on demand, at websites such as Bang Bros. and Youporn, making them available anytime you have the opportunity to view them.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/how-the-adult-film-industry-has-changed-over-the-past-75-years-207982.html

Why Horror Films Are So Popular

2007-09-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

By: Derek Both

Horror films are designed to scare and disgust viewers with evil characters, plots and events that can range from realistic to completely supernatural. Nobody will ever really understand why people would prefer to put on a horror DVD rather than a nice, relaxing comedy that won't make you jump out of your seat. However, the horror genre has been around for years with classics from Dracula and Frankenstein to modern day versions such as The Hills Have Eyes and The Ring.

A horror DVD is the top choice for many people when it comes to selecting a film which is why this genre has remained a firm favourite amongst movie fans. Maybe it's to laugh at... the story lines, pull faces at the disgusting bits or to get adrenalin pumping. One popular theory is that horror films touch on emotions that other films don't. After all what other kind of film can make you bury your head under the pillow, jump at the slightest noise or make you suddenly afraid of the dark?

People know that they can get a thrill from a horror DVD which you can't get from any other type of film. Viewers anticipate an adrenaline rush similar to the kind of felling you get before going on a big ride at an amusement park. That is one of the reasons why this genre of film is so popular - because people know exactly what they're getting and they know exactly what to expect.

People also enjoy the fact that when they are watching a horror DVD they are completely detached from reality. When completely engrossed in a film and sitting on the edge of your seat, it is easy to forget everyday stresses and problems and therefore is a great way to unwind for an hour and a half. This is something you are unlikely to achieve from a light - hearted film as you can probably get distracted very easily.

Perhaps the most obvious reason why horror films are so popular is because people like to watch them at Halloween. At a time when everyone is talking about ghosts, witches and unexplained occurrences, people like to put on a horror DVD and get in the spirit.

There is such a wide variety of horror films available from monster films, gory films, supernatural and slasher films so it is no surprise that there is something out there to appeal to everyone. With such an abundance of films to choose from horror films will probably always be a favourite amongst many people.

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Rush Hour 3 - Comedy Movie Review - 4 Out of 5 Stars

2007-09-05T04:46:00.000-07:00

By: Priscilla Parham

Comedy movie go'ers delight...

Just got back from watching Rush Hour 3 at the theatre. Who said sequels cannot be as good as the first? In my humble opinion Rush Hour 3 easily ties the first Rush Hour the only advantage being the first had the element of surprise.

The writer's did a nice job tying the plot to the original movie. The plot is very basic but flows nicely. The stunts were fast moving, fantastic and mostly believable. A few of them went over the edge but nothing like MI3 or the Die Hard series, which to me were still good movies for different reasons. Sometimes you just want to veg at a movie and not have to think about anything.

Back to Rush Hour 3, get ready to laugh, laugh, laugh. Chris Tucker carries the whole movie and does..., a great job at it! Kudo's to you Chris, what a great comeback. He's put on a few pounds but can still move about the scene agilely. This is no Academy Award winning performance like Eddie Murphy should have received for his astounding Dream Girls performance but Chris Tucker really shows his versatile skills.

Jackie Chan does a good job as well. He helps to balance out Tucker's wild and crazy antics and keeps them from crossing the line (like much of Martin Lawerences' work) from funny to just plain stupid. It's all about timing and balance. The Chan and Tucker team definitely have both in this hilarious sequel.

The asian cast had quite a few veteran actors. Hiroyuki Sanada from The Last Samurai and Youki Kudoh from Memoirs of a Geisha.

The enormous international success of the Rush Hour series began in 1998 with Rush Hour and then the sequel Rush Hour 2 was released in 2001. According to Box Office Mojo, combined these two movies have grossed over $350 million dollars domestically.

My theatre was packed and the general mood felt like most of the movie goers enjoyed the flick. The movie itself is nicely compacted into 87 minutes so you're not sitting there so long you start to wonder why you came out. If you like comedies this is a must see. Even with a weak plot it's still remains very funny.

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Taking Home Movies To The Next Level

2007-09-05T04:34:00.000-07:00

By: Wayne Rice

With the powerful, yet easy to use video editing software on the market today, it’s easy to just shoot, drop it in the editor, and burn it to a disk. What’s even easier is ending up with mediocre results. With just a little more attention you can turn average into spectacular. Most standard video editors, such as the one that comes bundled into Windows, Microsoft’s Movie Maker, have many features that, if used with some restraint, can help polish the finished product. With a little planning and some time spent in planning before compiling, you can make some memorable videos, and enhance your memories and your video records.

Here are some general rules that I like to follow:

* Keep it simple; a well-thought out five minute video is far more effective than a thirty-minute, no cuts, no-breaks-taken video. It’s OK to think in terms of chapters and to make each one a separate file. You can always combine them into longer works.

* Keep everything simple; pick just a few transitions and reuse them sparingly; avoid the temptation to apply all those radical filters. If you choose to use a special effect, use it once and make it count. If you are using still images, a simple fade transition works best.

* Choose a reasonable scene length. If you shoot ten minutes of video without pause, experiment with breaking it up into much shorter clips. Avoid the 3-second rule currently in vogue in commercials, where each scene only lasts 3 seconds. Some software will allow the program itself to break up any video file into several scenes, either by a detection algorithm, or by a set time span. Most can do this automatically.

* Edit edit edit. Good film making results in a fairly cluttered cutting room floor. Don’t be afraid to edit out uncle Henry’s silly dance. Consider editing out any really noticeable camera shakes. The idea is communicate the overall event or experience, not to record every single detail.

* Visual presentations must sound right. If you underestimate the power of sound, try watching a movie without the sound. You probably won’t last five minutes. Most of us live in a world filled with sound, and your videos should pay as much attention to the sound as any other feature. You should consider an audio editor program that will allow you to do several things; you should be able to strip out the original sound; you should be able to overdub, or add your voice to the recorded video sound track; you should be able to enhance your voiceovers or the original sound. Video recorders are not the best sound recorders.

*Titles, not family genealogies. Titles are a very effective tool; they can set the mood, position the presentation, and focus attention. They should be brief and this is one place where it’s OK to get a little crazy/creative. Slide in, fly out, different colors, interesting typefaces, go for it. Just don’t overdo it.

A final word; you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a full-featured video editing studio. I got ShowBiz, an ArcSoft product bundled into some burner software; it is a fully capable video editor. Avnex makes audio and video editors and morphers that you can download and try for free at www.audio4fun.com. Their Voice Changer Software Diamond 4.0 is one of my favorites, as it does for audio what the video editors do for visuals. Microsoft’s Movie Maker and Movie Maker II are also very capable video editors. And finally, don’t be afraid to experiment and to try altering the combinations of elements as you develop your video. Most programs will let you save elements as ’projects’, which allows you access to the individual elements over and over. By following these simple steps and thinking creatively you can raise your home videos to a new level.

Author Bio: Wayne Rice is a freelance journalist, copywriter, photographer and artist. He currently resides in the United States.

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