Monthly Archives: April 2014

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The National Film Registry: The Fantastic Five

image via loc.gov/film/tour.html

image via loc.gov/film/tour.html

The National Film Registry is a collection of films selected for preservation in the Library of Congress by the United States National Film Preservation Board. Established in 1988, the board is given the responsibility of selecting up 25 films that are either “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant films” annually, in a bid to “showcase the range and diversity of American film heritage to increase awareness for its preservation”.

All films must be at least 10 years old before they are available for selection. A film is eligible regardless of length, style and purpose and an official theatrical release is not compulsory criteria to be selected. The Registry contains documentary films, shorts, experimental films, news reels, silent films, films out of copyright, music videos and many, many more.

As of 2013, the National Film Registry contains 625 films, all considered to be deserving of recognition, preservation and access by future generations. Some of the most creative, innovative and awe-inspiring works are contained within the protecting arms of the Registry. However, of the several hundred films selected, 5 are considered more prestigious than all the rest.

As mentioned earlier, a film must be at least 10 years old before it can be considered for selection. The earliest listing is Newark Athlete (1891) and the latest Decasia (2002). Only 5 films have ever been selected in its first year of eligibility, a feat which is now regarded as a major honour amongst American film makers.

The following films were all selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in their first year of eligibility:

1: Raging Bull (1980) Selected for Cultural Significance

2: Do the Right Thing (1989) Selected for Aesthetical Significance

3: Goodfellas (1990) Selected for Cultural Significance (A second first year selection for Robert De Niro (Raging Bull 1980)

4: Toy Story (1995) Selected for Cultural and Aesthetical Significance

5: Fargo (1996) Selected for Cultural and Aesthetical Significance

Nation Film Registry – www.loc.gov/film/registry_titles.php

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This week in history: 19th April – 26th April

The 19th of April marks the anniversary of the release of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Release 19th April 2002, the film is one of the highest budget-to-profit grossing films of all time, earning over $240 million to date. After a limited release, buzz surrounding My Big Fat Greek Wedding spread mostly by word of mouth, leading to the $5 million budget film to receive generally positive reviews.

image via search.peopleschoice.com

image via search.peopleschoice.com

On the 26th of April 1926, American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) partnered with Warner Brothers Film Studios to officially introduce the Vitaphone. The technology, which give film makers the ability to add sound to their pieces, debuted with 1926 film Don Juan which featured an orchestral score by the New York Philharmonic.

The Panopticon, the first movie projector developed in the United States was demonstrated by Woodville Latham and his sons Otway and Gray on April 21st 1985. Motion pictures had been shown in the United States for several years prior using the Kinetoscope, invented by Thomas Edison. However, the films could only be viewed one at a time in a peep-show box, not projected to a large audience.

April 21st also marks another very special occasion. The 21st April 1993 is the day Inside Film writer, and professional legendary human being Andrew Crooks was born. Yes, that’s me.

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Audrey Hepburn’s on screen wardrobe

Collage of three photos of Audrey Hepburn wearing her infamous little black dress, one from the side, one portrait and one full length from the front.
Collage of three photos of Audrey Hepburn wearing her infamous little black dress, one from the side, one portrait and one full length from the front.

Images via vintagehandbook.wordpress.com, chicvintagebrides.com and davidlatta.org

Audrey Hepburn has long been a favourite actress of mine; my love of vintage film paired with my adoration of fashion and costume in film makes Hepburn, one of Hollywood’s most glamorous starlets an obvious icon.

Not only a pretty face Hepburn was a humanitarian and an appointed Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for were work with UNNICEF and posthumously awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitatian Award.

Hepburn is an inspiration for many reasons, but she is remembered by most as an icon of classic film, alongside greats such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Her striking appearance meant that she was adored by designers and in her film career she wore some stunning costume.

Her most infamous piece is by far the original ‘little black dress’ she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s as Holly Golightly. The floor length Italian satin sheath gown was designed by Hubert de Givenchy who worked with Hepburn on several films. The dress is gathered at the waist and includes a cut out detail back, interestingly the dress was originally designed shorter but was considered to show too much leg and was the lower half was redesigned by costume designer Edith Head.

Although the dress is undeniably iconic and has been reproduced and reimagined a hundred times over, the accessories are arguably just as infamous. The dress was paired with extravagant jewellery, a glittering tiara and several heavy strings of pearls worn around the neck. Hepburn also wore a long pair of black gloves in which she held an oversized cigarette holder.

The ‘little black dress’ was sold at auction in 2006 for £467,200, several times its estimate. This was the highest price ever paid for a dress in film until Marilyn Monroe’s infamous Seven Year Itch ‘subway dress’ was sold for over $4 million.

I couldn’t discuss Hepburn Hepburn’s on screen wardrobe without mentioning her costume in Funny Face. Hepburn portrays ‘Jo’, a shy book shop clerk, whisked along by fashion editor Maggie Prescott (Kay Thompson) as an amateur model.

Again Hepburn gowns were custom designed by Givenchy, she is quoted as saying “His [Givenchy] are the only clothes in which I am myself”. Givenchy designed several exquisite gowns for the film but two of my favourites are the strapless red chiffon gown that Hepburn wears running down the steps of the Louvre and the beautiful 1950s wedding dress with a boat neckline and huge ballerina skirt. Hepburn wears the wedding dress in a lovely scene with Fred Astaire, where the pair sing He loves and she loves.

Audrey Hepburn strikes a dramatic jumping pose wearing an all black outfit

Image via www.lemonandlace.com

Arguably less impressive but probably more Hepburn’s style is the black outfit she wears as Jo, visiting French jazz bars. A simple black turtle neck paired with cropped black trousers have never looked so chic. They perfectly define Hepburn’s sleek gamine figure.

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Location, location, location

A house with a round door built into the side of a hill on the set of The Lord of the Rings

From the picturesque landscape of New Zealand that we affectionately know as ‘Middle Earth’ to the harsh environment in Iceland that forms the planet that is explored by the crew of Prometheus, find out how the perfect filming locations are chosen.

While special effects and computer generated images (CGI) can create worlds and landscapes that go beyond your imagination as seen in Avatar, directors often choose to film in location often in harsh environments.

A long table set with plates cutlery and glasses on a sound stage at Leavesden Studios.

The Great Hall in Harry Potter was all filmed on a sound stage at Leavesden Studios.

Sound stages such as Pinewood Studios offers filmmakers impressive backlots that allow for a variety of scenes to be filmed on either sound stages or in front of a green screen, they are often too artificial and lack the visual spectacle that the English landscape of a Hawaiian beach can offer.

Location Works is Europe’s largest locations company and have scouted the perfect location for hundreds of both film and TV productions including, Philomena, Jupiter Ascending and W.E.

But choosing the perfect location isn’t as simple as selecting a grand country house or an impressive mountain range in Italy.

So what is involved in being a location manager? According to Location Works, ‘Anything and everything that it takes to make a location shoot go smoothly. It’s a job that can require many talents and great patience. There’s no such thing as the “typical” job’.

A location manager takes the clients brief, whether it be a big-budget feature film or a modest photo shoot in London, they find the perfect location to suit all their needs. this means that the location has to work perfectly not just from a visual perspective but also logistically.

In some more harsh terrain the problem of safety and accessibility is something that needs to be thought about. After all, there is no point in finding the ‘perfect’ landscape if it is impossible to get a camera there to film any shots.

For example for the 2013 release, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, most of the filming was done in Atlanta, Georgia. The reason behind this was due to the tax breaks the state offers to film makers in that area and less with the natural landscape in the surrounding area.

Sam Claflin diving into the ocean while filming a scene with Jennifer Lawrence in Hawaii for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Filming the scenes for the ‘Arena’ in Hawaii, stars Jennifer Lawrence and Sam Claflin of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The film then moved to Hawaii, with a much smaller crew, due to budgetary reasons, to film on location instead of in Georgia where they were using mainly back lots and sets.

So what Atlanta offered the filmmakers in a practical sense was something that while very useful, could not be matched by Hawaii’s golden beaches and lush jungles.

Whether it be a luxurious Spanish villa located in London for an independent movie or an active volcano, it is the job of the location manager to find that perfect location to be the perfect backdrop to the biggest cinematic moments.

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Events, offers and releases 14/4/14

Spider-Man in his costume about to webswing across the city.
The character Ivan Locke, played by Tom Hardy, driving his car.

Image via: http://oyster.ignimgs.com

This week brings some absolutely fantastic looking films to the table – why not treat yourselves and get to the cinema? First of all comes the sequel to the re-imagining of Spiderman. Of course, I’m talking about The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which swings into UK cinemas this Wednesday. ‘Nuff said.

Want something a little darker? Why not check out Locke? This moody thriller stars Tom Hardy, and looks like it could be good for something to do this Friday night. Want some more of the eerie stuff? Also this Friday comes Magic Magic, a psychological thriller that looks like it could give quite the fright.

And finally, an offer that really is too good to miss out on. Did you catch Andy telling you about the release of Noah in his Events, Offers and Releases post at the end of last month? Well, Showcase Cinemas are offering up the chance to win a trip to Iceland! Oh yes, lucky winners will be given a tour of the beautiful South Shore, and will take part in a whale watching experience!

All you have to do is answer the following – What does Noah build in the film? Choose from A – an Ark, B – a Jet Ski and C – a Bungalow. Send your answers to competitions@national-amusements.com by April 23rd to be in with a chance!