Freitag, 14. Mai 2010

"Rue Cases Negres" (Sugar Cane Alley) Starring Garry Cadenat

"Rue Cases Negres" (Sugar Cane Alley) is a film about hope in the midst of a field of hopelessness. Garry Cadenat stars as Jose, a poor but gifted black boy growing up in the 1930s in the French town of Riviere Salee in Martinique. His mother has died, so he lives with his grandmother, an elderly woman who spends all day working in the sugarcane fields of a rich plantation owner.

Slavery has been abolished, but the former slaves are still forced to work the plantations of their former owners. The only difference is that the bosses are no longer allowed to beat their workers. The workers are paid a salary, but it is so meager that they are permanently kept in abject poverty. The children spend their days playing in the village without any type of schooling or supervision. This lack of discipline comes to a head one day when the children are able to filch a bottle of rum, and in the process of getting drunk, they manage to burn down one of the huts in the village.

The plantation owner decides that since they are needing more workers for the fields, then putting the children to work will solve multiple problems. Jose's grandmother won't allow him to work harvesting the sugarcane. It is a backbreaking job she has toiled at all her life, and she has no desire to see her grandson end up in the same situation as her. She has better hopes for him.

Even without a school or teachers, the bright Jose has managed to learn how to read and write, even teaching some adults these skills. Jose's grandmother manages to have him move to another town that has a school. He lives with a friend of his grandmother who has him do chores around the house to help pay for his room and board. It is soon evident that the woman is more interested in his chores than his schooling, so Jose and his grandmother must design other plans to complete his education.

Their only other option is to enroll him in a boarding school in Fort-de-France, the capital. Jose is able to pass the entrance exams with ease, but his grandmother has no way of paying the expensive tuition and room-and-board. She has had to fight for everything all her life, and she isn't about to give up now. Will Jose be able to get a much needed education, or is he doomed to a life in the sugar cane fields? This is a great story of hope and perseverance that is not to be missed.

Christian Jentz is a world traveler who has visited nine different countries, and has lived in three. His travels have taken him to seven countries in Europe, one in North America, and one in Asia. He is an avid film buff, and through his travels has developed a love for foreign movies. He has written several articles, as well as contributed to several blogs for http://bluecowboyfilms.com. He speaks English, Spanish, and Chinese. He currently resides in China where he is an English instructor.

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Is Cinema's New Avatar Capable of Portraying Titanic Human Emotions

The latest and most-talked-about movie of the world, Avatar, received several nominations to the Oscars. Another of James Cameron's blockbusters, Avatar created waves all across the globe with its generous use of 3-D technology. The movie received rave reviews from critics in almost all the newspapers of the world. Audiences flocked to multiplexes in hordes to watch the movie. They even went to the extent of spending their hard-earned money liberally in order to see the movie twice, thrice and more than thrice. The movie, no doubt, was worth watching. The 3-D technology in it gave you the feel of an immersive and realistic environment, made you feel that you were touching objects in the film, that the rocks and stones that were hurled by characters of the film at other characters, were being thrown at you. You must have jerked back in your seat when you thought that something on screen was hurtling straight towards you. And yet, Avatar was beaten hollow by The Hurt Locker at the Academy Awards. While the latter film won six Academy Awards and stole the show on the night of the Oscars, the much hyped-up former film had to be content with only three Academy Awards and nursing deflated spirits.

Popular 3-D Technology

Though 3-D technology in movies is something that is not exactly new, Avatar is one of the first renowned movies of the world to have experimented with 3-D technology and made the use of 3-D technology in movies, famous. People are now talking about 3-D TVs so that they might see movies at home with the help of this brilliant technology. Engineers and marketers are also thinking how they will invent and sell 3-D television sets so that people can watch 3-D movies at home without wearing those goggles that you had to wear when you went to see Avatar. The 3-D technology lends a certain power to a movie. It makes a movie almost real. But apart from this power, can 3-D technology really make a movie?

Which is the Bigger Money Spinner?

Avatar was a tremendous hit and a success at the box office. It beat Titanic to become the highest-grossing movie in the history of motion pictures. Titanic was a movie that was also directed by James Cameron. It was released worldwide in 1997-1998. It won eleven Academy Awards and equaled the record of Ben Hur and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the only other Hollywood movies to have won eleven Oscars. On the face of it, Avatar beat Titanic. But if you looked behind the scenes, you probably would think otherwise. Ticket prices have shot up in the last decade. Also, only multiplexes and IMAX cinema theaters screened the 3-D version of Avatar. Naturally, ticket prices were higher in such cinema halls than in other cinema halls, which only screened 2-D versions of the movie. Hence, the escalated ticket prices of the 21st century in general, and the very high ticket prices charged by multiplexes, in particular, accounted for Avatar's generating such high revenues. If Titanic had been released in 2009-2010 instead of in 1997-1998, it might have generated as much money as Avatar generated.

Valid or Invalid Questions?

Another factor why everyone was going crazy over Avatar was because of its 3-D technology. The 3-D magic is still new to most spectators and was compelling them to visit multiplexes in droves. Many diehard fans of Titanic were raising the following questions amongst the public:

• Was there anything great about Avatar besides its 3-D technology?
• Was Avatar capable of arousing the emotions that were aroused on seeing Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater?
• Did Jake and Neytiri match up to Jack and Rose?
• Was Avatar a romantic movie that was capable of sweeping you off your feet?
• Could Avatar have done so well if it was produced keeping everything the same but minus the 3-D aspect?

These questions continue to haunt movie buffs even now. Only very mature movie critics can make an unbiased comparison between the two movies.

Comparisons

Movie critics and analysts said that Avatar was a great movie that had a new and mind-blowing concept. But according to them, Titanic was an even greater movie that portrayed one of the oldest concepts of humankind in a miraculous manner. Avatar underscored the disadvantages of deforestation and aimed to propagate preservation of eco-systems and biodiversity whereas Titanic highlighted a romantic attachment between a rich girl and a poor boy. Avatar was a science fiction whereas Titanic was a romantic drama.

Techies versus Romantics

Techies were all for Avatar though Titanic fans still swear by Cameron's genius in the old movie. Titanic fans say that Avatar would be no match for Titanic without its 3-D gizmos and gimmicks. In their opinion, Avatar showcased neither the talent of its actors nor the expertise of Cameron as a director. Since Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana appeared as animated forms, Avatar according to them, displayed the potential of modern techniques and technology rather than the prowess of actors or the capabilities of the director. Those who rooted for Avatar however harbored a different opinion. They said that Avatar portrayed the genius of Cameron as a modern-day film director. After all, the animation was his brainchild as was everything else in the movie. They said that Cameron had matured a lot over the last thirteen years from being a director of tear-jerkers to becoming a director of hi-tech cinema. Titanic fans protest vociferously saying that Avatar is hardly a film. It neither has a proper story nor does it have the magic necessary to make it a memorable film, qualities they claim were present in Titanic.

And the Winner Is...

However, as the debate and the war between fans of the two movies raged, James Cameron's ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow emerged as the clear winner in the Oscars. Thank god for that! Because if she was not chosen, the Oscars would have ended in a kind of confusion - between humanity and technology - with some humans preferring the power of technology over their own capabilities! Just because he did not win this time does not mean that James Cameron is not a genius. He has proved his unusual abilities as a film director not only through Titanic and Avatar but also through The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Aliens and True Lies. Undoubtedly, James Cameron is one of the greatest directors of modern times as he has reinvented and redefined movies with the help of his remarkable talents. But Kathryn Bigelow's victory should be an eye-opener for him. It should teach him that he is not the only genius in the field, that women directors can be geniuses too, and that however advanced technology may be, there is nothing smarter than the human brain and nothing more emotional than the human heart!

Damien Ghosh is a prolific writer of articles that focus on technology, places, psychology and people. Damien has worked in different industries such as the information technology industry, the travel and tourism industry and the retail industry. He has worked in several projects for blue-chip companies, that are part of the IT, travel and tourism and retail industries. His work and his passion for traveling has made him journey across the world. He has led large work-teams to accomplish business goals successfully. He is also an expert on psychology and has many degrees and diplomas in clinical and business psychology. He has successfully coached, counseled and mentored several people in the various organizations he has worked as a professional HR manager and psychologist. He has also counseled many people by holding counseling sessions in different parts of the world. His counseling sessions have been very helpful for motivating people and for enabling them to identify and set their goals. His rich experience undoubtedly helps him to write extensively. Damien writes for magazines, the web and for newspapers. He has also done several research papers on motivation, goal-setting, and human psychology and has contributed chapters to textbooks that deal with human resource management, human resource development, business and industrial psychology and clinical psychology. His articles, chapters and papers have received lots of accolades from critics, professionals, psychologists, HR managers, industrialists, help-seekers and readers in general. Damien Ghosh's websites are https://www.meetingdiary.com and http://www.filmpromos.com.

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9 Filmmaking Tips You'll Learn in Film College

If you are new to filmmaking or are just looking for some more information on filmmaking before you take the leap and join the ranks of millions filmmakers, there are 9 key steps you'll need to take to make your first film. This article will give you 9 filmmaking tips that are taught in film colleges around the world. Enjoy.

Concept

You'll need a basic idea or concept before your movie ever takes production. This will include a plot, a storyline, characters and the location where your movie takes place. The best way to do this is write down your ideas on a piece of paper. Write down all the details, big and small. Then sort them out into topics and main ideas. This piece of paper will become your script and you can build off of that.

Script

After you have developed your concept, start putting your script together. Keep in mind that a script is not just dialogue. The script includes the location, what's taking place and basically gives the overall mood of the movie. Script writing is the longest part of filmmaking believe it or not. Don't get frustrated if your script changes along the way, that's normal. Even for major filmmakers.

Storyboards

This is the fun part of filmmaking. After you have finished the script, put the scenes on storyboards. This will allow you to visualize the movie. You may need to hire an illustrator for this, but it'll be worth it.

Funding

Yes, you'll need some funds to put your movie together. If this is your first stab at filmmaking, then you'll probably just pool together your own money along with the people you are working with. However, if you expect a studio to fund your film then you'll have to follow these three guidelines: have a professional presentation, have a unique script and make sure your film is marketable.

Location

Now that funding is out of the way, you can focus on the location of your movie. Brainstorm a list of possible locations then check the sites to see if you need a permit to shoot a movie there. Many sites will require permits so don't be surprised at this.

Cast/Crew

At times this can be a challenging part of filmmaking. Once you have your site location set, you'll need to hire your cast. Many times you can post an ad in the paper online directories. A great place to start is at colleges. Colleges usually have a drama club and you can hire college kids pretty cheap.

Equipment

Keep in mind this is not some big production like Star Wars alright? You don't need all the high tech equipment that Hollywood uses. But at minimum you should have a decent camera, lights, sound equipment, props, costumes and set pieces. Don't go overboard on this or you'll break the bank.

Start Filming

This is where the rubber hits the road in filmmaking. A film can be made in as little as 6 weeks, or as long as 6 months. For your first film, you should have it ready within two months. That's a good goal to shoot for.

Edit

You may have six hours of footage for a 90 minute film. Don't panic. The editing process is where the film becomes a movie. Take your time on this. Make sure to review and edit all your scenes until the movie is to your liking.

Film School is a SCAM!!!! Everything I learned in Film School can be learned right here... More Filmmaking Tips

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Friends Forever - Seven Great Buddy Films on Satellite TV

There's been enough hoopla over the romance movie lately. Whether it's on a date or at home, you definitely don't need to be reminded of your bond with your significant other every single time you decide to head to the movies. After all, while it can definitely be nice to be in a relationship, there's more to life on this planet. and what about all of the single or divorced people out there? Chances are, they don't exactly feel like turning on their HDTV and seeing yet another happy ending, especially with the usual suspects.

But of course, there's a whole lot more to the world of film and movies than just the love stories or the breakup stories. Because whether you're a kid, teenager, twenty-something, or adult, there's a heartwarming tale that doesn't have to deal with whether you got the guy or the girl, but the time that you and your friends had a fantastic road trip, or the adventure to end all adventures. And there's something really uplifting about buddy movies, where people are excited to watch them, even if they've happened to have seen them countless times before.

So forget about satellite tv for your same-old love story, and check out one of these seven great buddy films the next time you're in the mood for a movie.

Twins. Any film where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito play twins is hilarious on its own, but if you add to the fact that this comes at the golden age for buddy comedies and you are actually working with a halfway decent script, and you have the kind of film for the ages that's always going to be on a television channel somewhere near you.

Stand By Me. A seriously heartwarming look at friendship when you're just starting to grow up, this film features incredibly talented performances for promising actors starting out, and their real-life stories of what happened after the success of this Stephen King short story turned film is heartbreaking and inspiring in equal parts.

Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion. Because you can't leave the ladies out of the buddy films! One of the best movies to watch at three in the morning on satellite tv, and you'll totally be tearing up by the Cyndi Lauper dance number and remembering everything you hated about high school, too.

Wedding Crashers. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are womanizers who are cynical about love and excited for June because it means wedding season--until one of them actually turns out to like a girl enough to date her. But you won't get distracted by that plot with all of the hilarious slapstick comedy in the way, and aspiring Casanovas can learn a thing or two from their HDTV sets when Wilson and Vaughn are running their game at the wedding receptions during the first part of the film.

Grumpy Old Men. Because buddy movies don't just have to be the young pups, this classic comedy definitely gives you everything that you need to see how nice it might be to grow old with one of your BFFs. But if you value friendship, definitely don't force anyone to see the sequel with you, as the film unfortunately lost a whole lot of its charm at later points.

Bromance. This is actually the buddy movie to end all buddy movies, and definitely the better Judd Apatow pick available out there on satellite tv. Paul Rudd is the star as a man about to be married who realizes that he's never really had other male friends, and he finally meets just the right guy. But will he have the nerve to ask him to be his best man? And what will the fiance think? A movie that could get unpleasantly derailed and turn out not-so-great instead manages to hold its own all the way to its very happy ending.

Lethal Weapon. Back before Mel Gibson was entirely crazy, there was this fast-paced action flick which took viewers right to the police force. And of course, having two cops paired together who are complete opposites leads to both drama, hilarity, and a whole lot of surprisingly tender moments in between flying bullets.

With DirecTV deals and the latest DirecTV business offers, you've definitely got a friend in your satellite provider.

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