Archive for the 'Events' Category
April 26th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
There should be a lot more coverage coming in the near future, but I just wanted to point out that from April 26th to May 3rd, 2012, the 13th annual Newport Beach Film Festival will be in full swing. As always, the festival takes place in beautiful Newport Beach, right along the coast. Over 400 films from over 50 countries will be screened during the week and, in addition, the Newport Beach Film Festival offers filmgoers the opportunity to meet the filmmakers. Directors, screenwriters and cinematographers eager to share their work will provide an exclusive inside look at the industry during post-screening Q&A’s. Continue reading ‘The 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival Begins’
March 22nd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
The final major movie-related panel that took place at WonderCon, in the main ballroom, on Saturday, March 17, 2012, was the presentation of a trio of films from Sony Pictures. This presentation included panels for Resident Evil: Retribution, Looper, and The Amazing Spider-Man. While two of the films listed will certainly spark a level of interest for many, the other film is definitely one to keep their eye on as well. Each panel provided a sneak peak at what is coming; some more extended looks than others, and the panel members involved all had a good time talking about the features they were a part of. There certainly seemed to be something for everyone at this panel. Read on to learn more about each film project and to see some trailers for them. Continue reading ‘WonderCon 2012: Sony: Resident Evil, Looper, and The Amazing Spider-Man’
March 22nd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
Adding more to my series of WonderCon posts, there is something to be said for what Universal has in store for audiences this summer. This blockbuster studio’s presentations included panels for the upcoming films Snow White and the Huntsman and Battleship. There was much to enjoy from both in regards to the footage that we were treated to, even if one panel was way more awkward to watch than the other (Hint: one involves things blowing up real good, while the other has the awkwardness of Kristen Stewart at a comic convention). Regardless, in terms of providing a good case for both of these movies, I think the audience was able to learn enough about both upcoming blockbusters to make them much more interested than they might have been beforehand. Read on to learn more about these films, the panels, and to find more footage. Continue reading ‘WonderCon 2012: Universal Pictures – Battleship and Snow White and the Huntsman’
March 21st, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
Really, this movie should just be called Space Jail, which will probably not be the last time I mention that in writing, as I am kind of excited to see this mindlessly fun-looking sci-fi/action flick. WonderCon presented a whole panel devoted to the upcoming release from Open Road Films, Lockout, which takes place in the future, set mainly aboard a prison located in space, outside of earth’s atmosphere. The premise is essentially Escape from New York in space, but the attitude this film seems to have, judging by its footage and trailers, indicates a film that has more of a desire of being silly fun rather than serious and bleak. Read on to learn more about this film, the panel, and to see some footage. Continue reading ‘WonderCon 2012: Lockout’
March 20th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
In a somewhat strange movie, before the Fox panel for Prometheus and Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Fox Searchlight was scheduled to present a panel for an upcoming film of theirs, Sound of My Voice. This is a film that premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, only now coming close to being released in theaters. The film is a psychological thriller that surrounds the concept of a mysterious cult-like group, led by a young woman, and discovering whether or not she is for real in her claims or leading an elaborate con. Given that this was an independent film with a different sort of premise, it felt kind of odd to put it on display in a room full of thousands of people more interested in panel’s for blockbuster films; however, at the same time, upon finding out the premise, there is a some logic as to why this film would be benefited by such a panel. Read on to find out more about this film and to see a trailer and clip from the film. Continue reading ‘WonderCon 2012: Sound of My Voice’
March 19th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
Everyone fights. No one quits. During WonderCon, many arrived to the main ballroom (which holds around 4,000 people) early in order to catch some of the bigger panels that would be happening later on in the day. The first thing to actually occur in the ballroom that day was a series of trailers for many upcoming films. All of the trailers had been seen at this point, but the one exception was the trailer that played at the very end of this entertaining reel. This new trailer was for Starship Troopers: Invasion, an upcoming direct-to-Blu-ray and DVD CG-animated film. The film is apparently a sequel to the first Starship Troopers film and is set to arrive this summer. Little else is known so far, but read on to find out a bit more and to see the trailer. Continue reading ‘WonderCon 2012: Starship Troopers: Invasion’
March 19th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
During the weekend of March 16-18, 2012, I was able to be a part of WonderCon 2012. WonderCon is normally located up in San Francisco, but this year, due to renovations taking place at the Moscone Center, WonderCon was relocated to the Anaheim Convention Center. 2012 marks the 26th anniversary of WonderCon and to kick things off for Why So Blu’s coverage, here is a post about the 20th Century Fox panel, which premiered new footage and trailers for two of their big summer movies, Prometheus and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and featured appearances from the cast and crew from both films. Continue reading ‘WonderCon 2012: 20th Century Fox – Prometheus and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’
March 19th, 2012 by Scott Wampler
Back when V/H/S (which, for brevity and sanity’s sake, we’re going to call VHS from here on out) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, the word on the street was that directors Ti West, Joe Swanberg, Radio Silence, David Bruckner, Adam Wingard, and Glenn McQuaid had crafted one helluva found-footage horror anthology: reports had audience members vomiting in their seats, people fainting out of sheer terror, massive rounds of applause when the credits rolled, and so on. And so, it was with great anticipation that I decided to check out one of the film’s midnight screenings during this year’s SXSW Film Festival. Did the film live up to the hype? Find out below, folks. Continue reading ‘SXSW Film Festival: ‘V/H/S’ (Movie Review)’
March 15th, 2012 by Scott Wampler
At this point, there’s a good chance that you’ve already heard people singing the praises of Gareth Evans’ The Raid (now clunkily titled The Raid: Redemption, but we’re just gonna continue calling it The Raid): for months now, the film—which may, in fact, be the greatest action movie since the original Die Hard—has been making the rounds on the festival circuit, and it’s never played to anything less than a wildly enthusiastic response. Earlier this week, Evans’ film played as part of the SXSW 2012 lineup. Wanna know more? Read on for our official review. Continue reading ‘SXSW Film Festival: ‘The Raid’ (Movie Review)’
March 15th, 2012 by Scott Wampler
This past weekend, the 2012 SXSW Film Festival opened with Drew Goddard’s Cabin in The Woods, a horror/comedy mashup you’re going to end up seeing on a whole bunch of film geek top-ten lists come December 2012. The buzz surrounding Cabin in The Woods has—let’s be frank—kind of bordered on the hyperbolic, calling it a “masterpiece”, “brilliant”, “worth seeking out immediately in a packed theater”, and a dozen other effusive bits of praise. Well, folks, I can’t help but join in with the rest of ‘em: this is a film that’s worthy of every bit of hype it receives. Read on to find out why you need to see Cabin in The Woods immediately. Continue reading ‘SXSW Film Festival: ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (Movie Review)’
March 10th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
On Friday, March 9, 2012, at the Regent Showcase Theater in Hollywood, California, the Los Angeles Animation Festival presented a screening of the 1999 animated film, The Iron Giant, followed by a Q&A with director Brad Bird, actor Eli Marienthal (all grown up), and members of the crew. The screening was presented with an original 35mm print of the film, in a theater that was packed with fans. Those who know of the history of The Iron Giant remember that, despite high critical praise, the film did poorly in theaters, only to find a much larger audience on home video and DVD. Now the film has a strong cult following, which was certainly apparent due to the enthusiasm seen at this crowded charity screening of the film. Continue on to find a full recording of the Q&A that followed the screening of the film. Continue reading ‘Los Angeles Animation Festival: The Iron Giant’
February 26th, 2012 by Ken Johnson
It’s Oscar Day! After a week of preparation and stories leading up to the event, I’m almost sad that the day is upon us. Of course, this also means I have to return to Northeast Ohio and my day job, but I think I am ready to get back. In today’s video clip, we walk you down the red carpet and show you some behind the scenes footage of the media setting up, and let you see what the stars will see and from their vantage point as they work their way down the red carpet to the Kodak Theater. Continue reading ‘Oscars – Day 7’
February 25th, 2012 by Ken Johnson
Thursday rounded out nicely, having spent the morning dining on Wolfgang Puck treats, then in the evening, it was time for the Oscar Nominated Features Symposium. The Animated Features Symposium is a chance to meet the filmmakers behind the year’s Oscar Nominated Animated Features and a chance to ask them questions about the animated medium. Continue reading ‘Oscars – Day 6’
February 25th, 2012 by Ken Johnson
Thursday is one of my favorite days covering the Oscars (along with the rest of them) because Thursday morning is the Governor’s Ball Food and Beverage Preview! The Governor’s Ball is a formal dinner held at the Hollywood and Highland Center immediately following the Oscars telecast. You have to remember the Oscars take place at 5:30pm Pacific time, so when the show is over three hours later, there is still plenty of time to party in Tinseltown! In our video for today, we had a chance to go one on one with Wolfgang Puck and get some of his perspective on throwing the official party of the Oscars. No pressure there! We also talked with Lauren Ashamalla from Sequoia Productions, who handles the logistics of the decorations and furniture for the Governor’s Ball. It is interesting to see the level of detail that goes into planning this one party! Continue reading ‘Oscars – Day 5’
February 25th, 2012 by Ken Johnson
In today’s video clip, CableSuite 541 Movie Critic and Star 97 DJ Jim Kulko and I opine about our favorites for the Oscar wins this year. Many people ask why the Oscars don’t more closely track the box office with the movie making the best money in the year winning best picture. Well, you have to remember, the folks who put on the Academy Awards is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the academics who promote and advance the movie-making craft. This means that they are concerned about the art form, not those movies us Midwesterners choose to spend our money to see. Continue reading ‘Oscars – Day 4’
February 22nd, 2012 by Ken Johnson
Today is the big travel day to the Oscars. We woke up today in Ashtabula County, and before I get to lie down in pajamas to sleep again, we’ll drive to Pittsburgh to catch our flight, land in Las Vegas to rent a car, and then drive five hours over to Hollywood! As I think about the day today, my thoughts turn to the Sunday night Oscars broadcast. I for one am glad to see an old veteran anchoring the show again. And of course, by old veteran, I mean this year’s host, Billy Crystal. Last year, producers opted for a younger couple to host the show, no doubt as a way to lure younger audiences to watch the program. Continue reading ‘Oscars – Day 3’
February 21st, 2012 by Ken Johnson
Yesterday we laid out an ambitious plan of our Oscars coverage this year. The problem is though, that while you read the stories and watch the video, you are stuck at home while I’m enjoying the Oscar buzz in Hollywood. Doesn’t seem fair does it? Last year, I started the ground work to make it less unfair when I an arranged for the good folks at the ACMC Foundation to chat with my contact at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Yes, I am bragging a little bit and trying to take credit for a great event. But, remember, I did it for you! Continue reading ‘Oscars – Day 2’
February 20th, 2012 by Ken Johnson
Forget Groundhog Day! For me, the last week of February gets me through the cold, dark winter. This year is no exception. Once again, I’ll make my pilgrimage to the center of the entertainment world and bring back you sounds and images from the Academy Awards 2012. We need to say a special thank you to our sponsors for making this week possible: Ashtabula County Medical Center, The Geneva Lodge and Conference Center, Ashtabula County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Carlisle’s Home in the Harbor, Heather Johnson Independent Distributor of Premiere Designs Jewelry, Star 97.1 FM, Whysoblu.com, Magic Oldies 102.5, The Star Beacon, and 98.3 The Bull. Continue reading ‘It’s Time for Oscars 2012!’
There should be a lot more coverage coming in the near future, but I just wanted to point out that from April 26th to May 3rd, 2012, the 13th annual Newport Beach Film Festival will be in full swing. As always, the festival takes place in beautiful Newport Beach, right along the coast. Over 400 films from over 50 countries will be screened during the week and, in addition, the Newport Beach Film Festival offers filmgoers the opportunity to meet the filmmakers. Directors, screenwriters and cinematographers eager to share their work will provide an exclusive inside look at the industry during post-screening Q&A’s. Continue reading ‘The 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival Begins’
