When Mike Nichols Fired Robert De Niro

When Mike Nichols Fired Robert De Niro: Excerpt from 'De Niro: A Life'

Robert De Niro was initially cast in Mike Nichols' "Bogart Slept Here," but the film never got off the ground and the material was later reworked to become Neil Simon's "The Goodbye Girl" starring Richard Dreyfuss. Read the full story below in this excerpt from Shawn Levy's new book, "De Niro: A Life."

To read full article, click below:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/when-mike-nichols-fired-robert-de-niro-excerpt-from-de-niro-a-life-20141228

THE FIRST WOMAN ON FILM (1894)

CARMENCITA—THE FIRST WOMAN ON FILM (1894)

When Spanish dancer Carmencita brought her saucy act to Edison’s lab, she became the first woman ever to appear in front of a motion picture camera.

Click below to watch history:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15jwb1ZTMA#t=10

The 1st motion picture!

We've come a long way, huh?

But this is very hip!  1878!!

Click below to view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrRUDS1xbNs

what's Thanksgiving without a little CHARLIE BROWN?

To get that Charlie Brown vibe, click below for some Thanksgiving stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VayAyAr-xqI

Ultimate Guide to Crowdfunding for Filmmakers

Indiewire's Ultimate Guide to Crowdfunding for Filmmakers

A good article on crowdfunding by Indiewire:

As crowdfunding becomes more and more the standard for independent film projects, filmmakers continue to look to Indiewire for resources on the best practices and tips for crowdfunding. Indiewire's developed quite a corpus on the topic, and we've got a list of our essential reading below.  Feel free to bookmark this page; we'll keep it updated when we publish new articles that are essential reads for those prepping for their campaigns.

To read full article:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/indiewires-ultimate-guide-to-crowdfunding-for-filmmakers

Very Short Stories

Very Short Stories

Yes, more on the art of the short storytelling form. Below are some extremely short stories. As filmmakers, which of these can be made into a film? Which ones might be cinematic? Visual?

Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?
- Eileen Gunn

Longed for him. Got him. Shit.
- Margaret Atwood

He read his obituary with confusion.
- Steven Meretzky

Rained, rained, rained, and never stopped.
- Howard Waldrop

Osama’s time machine: President Gore concerned.
- Charles Stross

To save humankind he died again.
- Ben Bova

To read read more, go to the full article here:

http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/sixwords.html

Roger Deakins on the Art of Cinematography

Below is some excellent advice from an amazing DP. My favorite is -- 

"Don’t Get Distracted with Technique"

1. Don’t Get Distracted with Technique

“Operating the wheels needs to become second nature as it can be a disaster if the technique of operating distracts from the relationship that an operator has with the subject. When I was starting I practiced doing figures of eight with the wheels and progressed to signing my name with them. I don’t feel the need to practice anymore but I do reassure myself that I can still sign my name each time I start a new film, if I am using a gear head. A gear head is not everyone’s choice and I don’t always carry one but it does have distinct advantages on certain set ups and on certain films.”

2. You Must Discover Your Own Style

“I am very wary of showing too much in the way of plans and diagrams. Not because I am secretive and I don’t want to give away something that is personal. Not at all! I just remember that when I began as a film maker and a cinematographer I never watched another cinematographer at work. The closest I ever got to seeing ‘how it was done’ was by shooting some documentary footage of Doug Slocombe at work on ‘Pirates of Penzance’. I loved seeing him work but it had absolutely no influence on the way my work evolved. Our styles could not be more different. That’s my point really. You can’t learn your craft by copying me or anyone else. I hope what I do can do is in some way inspire others but I would be appalled if I though my work was being studied as ‘the right way to do the job’. My way is just one of an infinite number of ways to do the job.”

3. Compromise is Sometimes Needed for a Better Film

“Sometimes, as with the death row scenes on ‘Dead Man Walking’, it is better to compromise composition, lighting and perhaps even sound a little and shoot with two cameras in order to help an actor get their performance. Sometimes it is better to go wider to include a prop in frame than break an actor’s concentration. When an actor appears on set ready to do a take it may be too late to change anything. At that time if I see a bad shadow or an eyeline that is slightly off I might talk to the actor or I might not. Perhaps I might think it better to change things for take two. If not then I judge it my mistake and I must try not to let it happen next time. In the end a film can look lousy but work because of a great performance but not the other way round. That’s something always worth remembering.”

For the full article, click here:    http://www.theblackandblue.com/2012/12/10/roger-deakins-advice/