Thompson on Hollywood

India Picks Surprise Oscar Submission: Harishchandrachi Factory

Only three Indian films have been nominated for the best foreign film Oscar: 1957's Mother India, Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay in 1988, and Lagaan, in 2001. This year's choice was a surprise, from 40-year-old rookie director Paresh Mokashi: Harishchandrachi Factory, the story of India's first feature film. Made in 1913, Raja Harishchandra was directed by Dadasaheb Phalke, the D.W. Griffith of Indian cinema.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 8, 2009 12:30 PM
|
2 Comments

More:

Talking European Award and Oscar Docs

The European Film Academy and the European culture channel ARTE announced their nominated documentaries today. The winner will be presented at the 22nd European Film Awards Ceremony on Saturday, 12 December, in Bochum, Germany.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 8, 2009 8:42 AM
|
4 Comments

More:

Three Tools to Unlock Bright Star's Online Potential

In the second of a series of service pieces about independent film marketing, digital consultant Chris Dorr uses Bright Star as an example of a movie that has not taken full advantage of its online potential. He offers three ways the film could unleash the passion online that is in such evidence onscreen:

By Chris Dorr
|
October 8, 2009 3:01 AM
|
32 Comments

More:

Monaghan Drives Trucker

Former Slamdance Film fest producer James Mottern wrote and directed Trucker, an unpretentious, tough little movie that debuted at Tribeca in 2008 and is finally getting a modest release this week, starting in New York. The movie is about an independent young truck-driver (Michelle Monaghan) who is happiest when she's in the cab of her semi. She married at 18, had a baby, and then left her family behind. Sure enough, a decade later she has to face that kid when his father gets sick.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 7, 2009 10:40 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

Full Disclosure: Bloggers Break Rules

James Rocchi is the contemporary model of online era film critic.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 7, 2009 7:10 AM
|
61 Comments

More:

Coraline's Selick Leaves Laika

It seems odd that when a movie breaks out and does as well as Coraline ($120 million worldwide), that the filmmaker would leave the animation company behind it. But Henry Selick and Portland, Oregon-based Laika have parted ways at the expiration of Selick's contract as Laika supervising director. Often the same creative drive and energy that makes a movie like Coraline possible--believe me, without Selick it would not be the same movie-- makes a director tough to work with. Laika, which also produces commercials, intends to continue making stop-motion animation.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 7, 2009 4:00 AM
|
2 Comments

More:

Movie Site: Jinni

I am sitting at my laptop streaming Julie Taymor's Across the Universe--a movie with a fantastic Beatles soundtrack sung by attractive actors including yummy leading man Jim Sturgess--for free. I'm beavering away here, enjoying the comments on Gawker's post asking for $1000 reward for a new photo of Nikki Finke, and feeling remarkably unmotivated to do any serious blogging.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 6, 2009 11:15 AM
|
1 Comment

More:

Avatar Watch: Action Figures, Concept Art, Novel

While James Cameron and the VFX wizards at Weta Digital in Wellywood are trying to finish the last big effects sequences in Avatar--which is set for December 18 release--Cameron is also working on many of the ancillary marketing and licensing sidelines that will help sell this pricey 3-D movie. (The official sticker price is $237 million, but we can safely assume that that figure is 1) low and 2) counting.)

By Anne Thompson
|
October 6, 2009 6:52 AM
|
1 Comment

More:

Another Shoe Drops: Disney Replaces Cook with Ross

Disney chairman Bob Iger has finally announced that Disney Channel star Rich Ross, a 13-year Disney veteran, will replace Dick Cook as chairman of Walt Disney Studios. As studio chief he will supervise worldwide production, distribution and marketing of the Walt Disney, Touchstone, Miramax and Disney/Pixar labels. He will also take on Disney’s theater and music groups.

By Anne Thompson
|
October 5, 2009 9:37 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

Trailer Watch: Shutter Island, Two

In case you missed it, here's the second trailer for Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island, based on the Dennis Lehane mystery and starring Leonardo DiCaprio: