Peter Jackson turns The Hobbit into three films – explained in his own words

From a post by Peter Jackson in Facebook:   It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut …

Ai WeiWei reviews London’s opening ceremony for 2012 Olympics – criticizes Beijing’s

Brilliant. It was very, very well done. This was about Great Britain; it didn’t pretend it was trying to have global appeal. Because Great Britain has self-confidence, it doesn’t need a monumental Olympics. But for China that was the only imaginable kind of international event. Beijing’s Olympics were very grand – they were trying to throw a party …

Prison inmates at San Quentin get contract to build satellite parts for NASA

The NASA Ames Research Center is known for establishing innovative partnerships and Pete Worden, the former Air Force general who serves as the Center’s director, is known as a maverick. Still, the latest joint venture to come to light has caught even some longtime NASA observers by surprise. Under supervision from NASA Ames, inmates working in the …

Man of Steel – new 2013 Superman movie is an origins story, Christopher Nolan style

If Superman and Batman duked it out, who would win? The question put Man of Steel director Zack Snyder in a tough spot, since The Dark Knight Rises auteur Christopher Nolan is the guy who hired him to make the new Superman movie. *** Snyder and new Superman actor Henry Cavill showed off new Man of Steel footage Saturday that operates …

Short films/commercials from Wes Anderson – starring Brad Pitt, Jason Schwartzman

Anderson starred in and directed an American Express “My Life, My Card” commercial, which chronicled the “filming” of an action movie starring Jason Schwartzman. Anderson acts as if he is being interviewed by someone from American Express for the ad, while walking around completing tasks on set, a scene paying homage to the movie “Day …

Play Me, I’m Yours – thirty pianos across the city for anyone to play

Touring internationally since 2008, Play Me, I’m Yours is artwork by British artist Luke Jerram. For three weeks beginning April 12, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra brings Play Me, I’m Yours to Los Angeles. Thirty pianos, designed and decorated by local artists and community organizations, are featured across Los Angeles County and are available for everyone …

Now is the easiest time since Prohibition to start a distillery

In our inaugural film, we visit the Breuckelen Distilling Company, the first gin distiller in Brooklyn since prohibition. Founder Brad Estabrooke talks about starting from nothing and the imperfect process of perfecting a craft. “It was challenging to get people to take me seriously. ‘Hey, I just got laid-off from my job and I have …

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – secret footage – 1988 Teaser Trailer

No part of this scene is in the movie. It was specially shot to get you in the right state of mind for the movie. To know more about it, here is a Frank Oz interview where he talks about the scene.

DC Tech Parties for the Holidays

It’s that time of year again and Happy Holidays! These next few weeks in DC are jam packed with parties and events, the final rush before we all settle down for quiet family nights. Here are my mandatory events: Think Impact’s 3rd Annual Gala Celebrating Social Innovation – Thursday at 6:30pm Brightest Young Things and …