Monday, March 31, 2008

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Relative Values


Alright, if you like that sort of thing.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW -Entrapment

This is the best bit of the film..

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Collateral

Heat-esque. The HD scenes are cool.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Around The World In Eighty Days

Coogan, Coogan, Coogan ...

Saturday, March 29, 2008

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - The Transporter 2

Insane film. Enjoyed it though.. More ludacris than the first

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - The Transporter

Ludacris.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Wombats

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - The Italian Job

An absolutely pointless remake.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Talladega Nights

Funny places. Amy Adams is fit as always.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Addams Family Values


As good as the first film.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Facebook Suicide

Raindance presents

Holiday Toolkit for Filmmakers
Get rid of those winter blues

Greetings!

This is the the Electronic Intern at the Raindance Film Festival.
Everyone in the office is out shooting or watching festival submissions.

We started Raindance in 1992 in order to meet talented, first time filmmakers like you. That is why we have the Raindance Film Festival. We are open for submissions for the 2008 festival from January 1 - June 1st. Click here to submit.

We have put together this Holiday Toolkit because we know all this spare time on your hands - it's a 4 day weekend! - can leave you motionless, like the proverbial bunny - this time caught in the headlights of inactivity.

Here it is: Get tooled up!

You don't need to live in London to use these:


Top Tips and Tools for Writers

1. Top 10 Undistributed Films of 2007
Our friends at Indiewire.com put together this great list, many of which have played at Raindance Film Festival in London.

2. Facebook Suicide and other trends for 2008
Who would believe some of the terms on this list? A great resource for screenwriters, or anyone trying to look the part and impress people!

3) Development Finance
How to formulate a plan to get that hard-to-get first money.

4. Why 3 Act will Kill Your Writing
Raindance is pretty unpopular with the the so-called 'experts' for daring to publish this extremely helpful article by John Truby

5. The 7 Steps to a Successful Screenplay
Of course it's not as easy as 1 - 7 - but we hope you find this article a big help.

6. The 9 element of Great Films
Our favourite, John Truby, has another killer article.

Have you heard about his new book? "Anatomy of Story"?
We think it is the best book on storytelling yet.

7) Want to write intensely complex and satisfying stories?
Character web is the new story buzz word. And if you haven't been following Raindance, you are probably in the dark.

Why don't you forward this to a friend?
Or sign up to our weekly newsletter?

As you can see, there's lots here that you can use without being in London.

7. The Black List
Here's a list put together in mysterious circumstances, by the top story editors in Hollywood. Indispensable.

8. Script Format Guide
Look smart. Look the part.

9. The 4 Routes to Getting an Agent
It isn't easy, but here are some tried and tested ideas of how to get an agent.

Top Tips and Tools for Directors

10. Top 10 Tools for Great Filmmaking
Who said filmmaking was difficult? It ain't! But it is really hard work. Here's some useful stuff to make it easier.

11. The 4 Responsibilities of the Director
Many new directors don't have a clue of what they are supposed to do. Get tooled up if you want to direct.

12. The 10 Golden Rules of Shooting on Video
Tape is great if you use it right.

13. The 13 Steps of Post-production
The 1,2,3's of post.

Top Tips and Tools for Filmmakers

14. How Much Is My Film Worth?
Make if for less than you can sell it!

15. The 10 Dirty Secrets of Independent Film
Our latest article. Beware! Reading this can prick dreams!

16. What is IPTV and why is Raindance..tv Important?
Yes - this is the one we really want you to read, because it's all about our latest venture!



Raindance is a people place, and you are our biggest asset. Please feel free to forward this to your mates, by clicking on the "Forward Email" below.

And if you have any comments or ideas or suggestions, please feel free to let us know at live@raindance.co.uk
Sincerely,
Laurel

The Raindance Team
0207 287 3833

Movies for free www.raindance.tv

We'd really like it if you would forward this email to a friend.

What are you reading this for when you could be out shooting?!
What is Raindance?
Click here to read our history


Saturday, March 22, 2008

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Toy Story 2

This film is better than the original.

Wigan, Namur, Coventry

Ironman


Not sure if I want to see this.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - 10,000 BC

I didn't storm out of the cinema. That's good.

Friday, March 21, 2008

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Vantage Point

What a load of rubbish.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - High School Musical 2


I don't understand...

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Freaky Friday

Prefer the original but this one's watchable. Lohan's lovely.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Die Hard With A Vengeance

Saw this in the cinema and thought it was okay. Saw it again on TV and thought it was crap.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - A Grand Day Out

The first of three great shorts. It's very good indeed.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Brick

Awesome. Underrated. Go and rent.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Alien 3

I liked it. There, I said it.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Gary Numan

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Bad Story

Get Rid of Bad Story Structure
Once and for All

Raindance presents:
22 Step Story Structure
Sat/Sun 5/6 April 9:30 - 6pm

Greetings!

I'm Elliot Grove, and I am writing you because I passionately believe that there is much misinformation about screenplay story strucuture that is misleading and wrong.

I have decided to bring John Truby to London in April.

John has taught advanced story structure to over 20,000 people worldwide and has been story consultant on over 1000 scripts. He's seen all the story problems and knows how to fix them. That's why he created
22 Step Story Structure and Understanding Genre.

I want to bring his screenwriting classes that would show you the hundreds of story techniques he knows while you're writing.

And I am returning to Raindance on Saturday/Sunday 5/6 April (22 Step Story Structure) and Monday/Tuesday 7/8 April (Understandanding Genre).


Funny Nacho Libre Pic Step-by-step to Great Story Structure

1. 22 Step Story Structure shows you the 'gold' of your idea and which genre forms are best for expressing it.

2. Character Web, World, and Arc techniques help you create complex characters that grow over the course of the story and move the reader.

Click here for a free article on Creating Character Web by John Truby

3. The 22 Building Blocks of every great story, gives you a surprising plot that builds steadily from beginning to end.

4. 22 Step Story Structure shows you the right structural order for your scenes, and lets you figure out the ideal sequence in a fraction of the time.

5. Rewrite shows you the deep structural weaknesses that are likely to be in your script and takes you through the ideal order for fixing them.

What: 22 Step Story Structure
When:
Saturday/Sunday 5/6 April 9:30 - 6pm
Where:
University of Westminster, London, near tubes Goodge St or Oxford Circus
How Much?
£250 + VAT
Raindance members get a 15% discount. Click here to find out more.

Call 0207 287 3833 to register or Book Online Here


Why 3 - Act Will Kill Your Writing

The so-called 3-act structure is the biggest, most destructive myth ever foisted on writers. I would like to call it obsolete. but that implies that it worked in the first place.

It didn't.

Let John Truby explain why.

Click here for his article on 3 Act structure

First Feature Understanding the Tool of Genre

The first rule of professional writing is: the entertainment industry buys and sells genres.

Genres are story types, and business has learned that you reach the greatest audience by taking a few of the most popular story types and constantly reworking them in new and creative ways.

The strategy for writers is clear: to succeed, you have to specialize in two or three of these popular forms and write something original.

The Understanding Genre class offers in-depth, professional- level information in the most popular genres in the world. Once you have learned the techniques found in my flagship 22 Step Story Structure class learn more about genre for the kind of writing you want to do.

This way, you're writing from strength, and you're writing the kinds of scripts the entertainment industry wants to buy.

What: Understanding Genre
When:
Mon/Tues 7/8 April 6:30 - 10pm
Where:
University of Westminster, London, near tubes Goodge St or Oxford Circus
How Much?
£145 + VAT
Raindance members get a 15% discount. Click here to find out more.

Call 0207 287 3833 to regisister or Book Online Here


13 Most Popular Genres

Here they are: Action, Comedy, Crime, Detective, Fantasy, Horror, Love, Masterpiece, Myth, Science Fiction Thriller and TV Drama.

Having trouble picking your genre?
John Truby has devised a simple and entertaining quiz to assist you.

Click here to take the quiz and find your genre.


Moral Storytelling and Hollywood

This year's Oscar script nominations demonstrated in the clearest possible terms how successful movies are now focusing on stories that change peoples lives.

John Truby has written extensively about this.

Click here to read his article: Moral Storytelling

Click here to read his analysis of this year's nominated screenplays.


DVD Over 160 Script Breakdowns

Can you afford to be without these useful script breakdowns of over 160 screenplays by John Truby.

Learn more. . .

The common complaint amongst producers is NOT raising the money. Tough as it is, it is possible to get money for filmmaking.

The most common complaint is 'Where are all the great scripts?'

Here's our chance to do something about that!
Happy screenwriting!
http://www.raindance.co.uk
Elliot Grove
Raindance Festivals Limited
The Raindance Guarantee
If you decide to attend and find that this course is overhyped, or unsuitable, or simply does not meet or exceed your expectations, let a member of the Raindance staff know by noon on the first day or by the end of first night for a no-questions- asked refund.

Monday, March 17, 2008

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers

Strange biopic. Sellers - great actor. We don't make like that anymore.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Classic. I'm looking forward to the new one.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Jumanji

Good ol' kids fare. The effects sill impress. Dunst is in it.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - The Diving Bell & The Butterfly

Beautiful stuff. This should have won more. This should have been talked about more.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Brothers Of The Head

Fan fucking tastic. Track this down. A rare treat.

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Absolute Power

Not seen this in quite a while. Eastwood is pretty good.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

IN DEPTH FILM REVIEW - Get Carter

SHITE.

You Bitch

****************************************************
Spice up your Friday afternoon by becoming a horse
racing expert. Kauto Star vs Denman in the Cheltenham
Gold Cup - it's the race of the century. Get a FREE
£25 bet and 20% better odds with Betfair here
http://promo.betfair.com/sports/uk/cheltenham08/?rfr=3938
***************************************************


"The truth is, it's crazy to be able to
kiss your best friend. It's just a really
awesome thing” - Pete Wentz, Fall Out Boy
----------------------------------------------------
POPBITCH _ _ _
_ __ ___ _ __ | |__ (_) |_ ___| |__
| '_ \ / _ \| '_ \| '_ \| | __/ __| '_ \
| |_) | (_) | |_) | |_) | | || (__| | | |
| .__/ \___/| .__/|_.__/|_|\__\___|_| |_|
|_| |_| 13.03.08 ISSUE 389
Free every week: to subscribe/unsubscribe
go to http://www.popbitch.com

* Eurovision is back - and we're all going French
* Horse up your life with the Cheltenham Gold Cup
* Charts: Duffy is still number one
-----------------------------------------------------


>> Hamass <<
The donkeys of Gaza do a dirty protest

In Gaza this week there was a demonstration
by animals for human rights. Eight camels bearing
“Save the Children of Gaza” signs; two dozen
donkeys, including one in a Hamas headband;
10 horses and nearly 100 sheep were brought to
the UN building. After a few minutes the beasts
started a dirty protest. Some defecated in
the streets, while the donkeys started shagging
each other. Journalists found it almost
impossible to do a straight piece to camera
without some animal porn behind them.


-----------------------------------------------------
Gay tory MP Alan Duncan has a new nickname among
some journalists at Westminister. Impressed at his
ability to quietly collar people in the corridors,
they've taken to calling him The Pink Panther.
-----------------------------------------------------


>> Spiderdad <<
Tobey's laid-back parenting

Tobey Maguire was recently at a children's party
in LA with his small daughter. Ruby, about 16
months old, spent much of her time trying to
stand up and walk. When other parents tried to
help Tobey shooed them away, saying he thought
adults put too much pressure on children to walk,
and that the babies would get there without
help when they were ready. Tobey always talked
to his daughter about what he was about to do,
like "Do you want to be picked up? I'm going
to pick you up if that's alright with you."


-----------------------------------------------------
No longer a gruesome twosome? Jarvis Cocker and
wife Camille. Fashion insiders are talking with
sadness about the problems the pair have been having.
-----------------------------------------------------


>> Clubwars <<
It's like it is 1995 again

All Around the World have been quiety building
up a massively successful pop-dance brand,
Clubland. Not to be outdone, Ministry of Sound
has responded with Hard2Beat Records, home of
Basshunter and H Two O. Last night in west London
Clubland held a gig for over 3000 teenagers.
All decked out in orange lycra, blowing whistles
and waving glowsticks (Clubland sold 16,000
branded glowsticks last week) the kids went
mental to the sounds of Scooter, Cascada et al
We're told AATW scanned the guestlist to stop
Ministry spies coming in, but some managed to make
it through. Whatever you do avoid central Manchester
on Friday. Clubland take over G-Mex, with 12,000
spangled teens. (Although, secretly, we can't
wait for the Scooter Greatest Hits to arrive.)


-----------------------------------------------------
A source at the Portland claims Victoria Beckham has
an imminent appointment with celebrity childbirth
expert Dr Gillard. Baby no 4 announcement soon?
-----------------------------------------------------


>> Why the long faces? <<
It's Cheltenham Gold Cup Friday

Horse racing: animals, booze, betting, and
even the chance to bump into George Clooney,
as he's been at Cheltenham this week. What's
not to like? If you don't normally follow
racing, Friday afternoon's Gold Cup is a good
place to start. It's like the Eurovision Song
Contest of the horse world, and not as
confusing to follow as the Grand National.
Here's the popbitch guide:

1. Gold Cup - 3.30pm Friday, so a great
way to waste an afternoon with colleagues.
2. The two best horses in UK race against each
other (and around 14 others) over big fences.
Kauto Star and Denman are trained by the same
person and live side-by-side in adjoining stables.
3. Pronounce Kauto Star caught-o not kate-o to
show your expertise. He won last year's race and
is the first horse in his stable to be fed every
morning (which might piss off Denman), he's a
Pisces “compassionate, empathetic, imaginative,
sensitive”, and his nickname is The
Extraterrestrial. His stableboy says if he was
human he would be most like Roger Federer.
4. Denman is a big horse, nicknamed The Tank.
He weighs 35kg more than Kauto. He's an Aries,
“assertive, brave, energetic, action-oriented”
and if he was human he would be like Mohammed Ali.
5. Bet each-way and you win money on the first
three horses, not just the winner. It's best to
choose a horse with long-odds for most money. Try:
* Afistfullofdollars - Ireland's sole runner.
* Neptune Collonges - from the same stable
as Kauto and Denman.
* Knowhere - people have been quietly bigging him up.


*********************************************************
Feeling brave? Pick a horse to challenge Kauto Star and
Denman in Friday's Gold Cup. £25 free bet with Betfair:
http://promo.betfair.com/sports/uk/cheltenham08/?rfr=3938
*********************************************************


>> Big Questions <<
What people are asking this week

Which WAG took her mobile phone to be repaired
and has since discovered that topless photos she
had on her phone are being hawked around
to the tabloids?

This Premiership star might start more
games if he stayed out of the clubs a
bit more. His inability to hold his drink
has got him into compromising situations,
including one after an away game which ended
in him playing away, and some heavy-handed
legal threats to stop the girl doing a
kiss and tell.


-----------------------------------------------------
Wonder why The Klaxons looked so out of it trying
to mime alongside Rihanna at the Brits? They'd
dropped some acid before the show. Respect.
-----------------------------------------------------


>> Telling porkies <<
What's going on at News International?

News of The World have had two big football
News of The World had a big interview with
crocked Arsenal star Eduardo, where they
detailed at length the visit to the hospital
of the guy who broke Eduardo's leg, Martin
Taylor. Except it was entirely made-up.
Eduardo gave his first real post-injury
interview to Croatian TV last week, and said
he had not given an interview to NOTW. The
Croatian journalist and L'Equipe both report
that the whole story about Taylor visiting
the hospital was false.

And now The Sun is getting in on the act. On his
blog Thom Yorke accuses The Sun of totally
misquoting him over Radiohead's decision not to
play Glastonbury. In an article about concertgoers'
carbon footprints, The Sun quoted Yorke as saying
Radiohead weren't playing Glastonbury because of
the lack of transport infrastructure. Yorke said
they headlined a couple of years back and just had
no plan to do it this year, “we felt as if we had
only just played there.”

Eduardo:
http://tinyurl.com/2qeh7l
Thom:
http://www.radiohead.com


-----------------------------------------------------
Reasons to be cheerful no 243: Sara Cox has
named her son Isaac. Yep, Isaac Cox.
-----------------------------------------------------


>> Cheltenham - no! <<
People who shouldn't go racing this week

1. Mark Woollen from Newcastle, who is only
six months out of a suspended jail term for
having sex with a female horse, Molly. The
horse's distraught owner said it was “like
having a member of the family raped”.

2. Gai Waterhouse, Australian trainer whose
horse, Love You Honey, tested positive for
cocaine after it came last in a race.

3. The Queensland lab technician who has stolen
parts of human brains to inject into racehorses
to make them run faster. Ew.

4. Kevin Long, from County Durham, who was
spotted fellating a horse. “I was just being
nice to it” was his defence. Along with the
claim he just “fell under the horse”.

5. Trudie Styler. Horses need their sheaths
cleaned by their owners to prevent the build-up
of smegma. Trudie does the Sting family horses
herself. Not a suitable activity at a racecourse,
though. (How to clean your horse's penis):
http://tinyurl.com/2jvqtc

6. Patches the horse. Too lazy. Likes cars:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teHfyby_veU

7. Three celebrities described to us as
being “hung like a horse” - Bruce Forsyth,
John Leslie, Richard Drummie of Go West.


-----------------------------------------------------
More doctor euphemisms for odd or crazy patients.
IWB is one up from NFN. Intercourse with biscuits.
i.e. fucking crackers)
-----------------------------------------------------


>> France, twelve points <<
Daft Punk is playing at my Eurovision

We're worried that the recent golden age
of Eurovision is coming to an end. Last year's
quality was down on the year before and
this year there are just so many joke entries
that just aren't funny (e.g. Spain, Bosnia).
But it's not all doom and gloom, check
out these beauties:

1. France, Sebastien Tellier:
Divine is produced by Guy-Manuel of Daft
Punk. Brilliant and bonkers. And
mainly sung in English:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wePpbeWxaqw

2. Finland, Teräsbetoni
Not content with introducing us to Lordi
in 2006, now we get full-on proper rock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1nzvDYycUw

3. Russia, Dima Bilan
Second placed behind Lordi, Dima's re-entry
is proof Russia are desperate to bring
Eurovision to Moscow. Big English language
ballad produced by Timbaland. Dima's
rich backer doesn't like it, he's started
calling Dima "the chief black man in Russia”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaCdzO_luKk


-----------------------------------------------------
Every thoroughbred race horse is descended from one
of three Arabian stallions that were brought to
England in 18th century - Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian
or Godolphin Barb.
-----------------------------------------------------


>> Zedonk zurprise <<
Colchester zoo's star

Animal of the week - The Zedonk.
* He's half zebra, half donkey (geddit?)
* Shadow the Zedonk was born in Colchester
Zoo 30 years ago; one of the first born
in captivity. You do find many zedonks in
Africa where the live in the wild together.
* A zedonk was featured in Darwin's
Orign of the Species.
* There's another nice zedonk called
Alex. He lives in Barbados. He's one of
the only zedonks where the donkey not
the zebra was the dad.
* A zedonks can also be called a zonkey,
zebrass, zebronkey, zebadonk, zenkey,
zebrinny or deebra.

Shadow - he's nice:
http://www.messybeast.com/history/zedonk.htm


*****************************************************
Sign up with Betfair and use your £25 FREE bet on a
Kauto Star win. You'll make £55 if he does it.
http://promo.betfair.com/sports/uk/cheltenham08/?rfr=3938
*****************************************************


>> Things that make you go hmm <<
Russian mobsters, sheep and goats

This year is the 25th anniversary of the greatest
Gold Cup yet - when trainer Michael Dickinson
trained the first five horses. Winner Bregawn
died at the end of last year, aged 34.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XwtDYQvndw

Russian mobster tombstones
http://englishrussia.com/?p=1782#more-1782

Rap generator:
http://tinyurl.com/37c6fc

Last FM meets ukeleles:
http://letsplayukulele.com/ukulele/tabs/lastfm/rhodrimarsden/

Sheep and goats are the only animals with
square pupils:
http://tinyurl.com/37jg64

Fergie from Black Eyed Peas used to voice
Sally in Peanuts. She does the voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bo045yh1Qw

30% off Men's and Women's Fashion. Discoo is
having a Spring Clean to make way for new
stock. Use code "springclean". Hurry -
ends Friday:
http://www.Discoo.co.uk


>> Chart Predictions <<
New entries/High climbers Sun 16th March

++ Number One
DUFFY Mercy

++ Top Ten
LEONA LEWIS Better In Time
UTAH SAINTS Something Good 08

++ Top Twenty
PANIC AT THE DISCO Nine in the Afternoon
ELBOW Grounds for Divorce
SUGABABES Denial
FUTUREHEADS The Beginning If The Twist



>> End Bit <<
Stuff about Popbitch

* Email stories, gossip:
hello@popbitch.com

* Subscribe or unsubscribe here:
http://www.popbitch.com

* Popbitch is published by Popdog Ltd.

* Web hosting by: http://del.co.uk

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*****************************************************
Thanks to: AM, dollymixture, LT, SW, WB, WB, CB, SM,
DW, DM, B, JO, LA, enzothebaker, ennuyee, AC, C,
deep_stoat, celtiagirl, MS, DK
*****************************************************


Old Scottish Jokes Home 2:
Q: Why are married women heavier
than single women?

A: Single women come home, see what's in
the fridge and go to bed.
Married women come home, see what's in
bed and go to the fridge.


Still Bored:
Nice zombie game.
http://www.urbandead.com/diaryofthedead/