ACADEMY SHINES NEW LIGHT ON "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE"

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will examine the technology behind "It's a Wonderful Life" at Los Angeles and New York City screenings on Friday, December 9, and Monday, December 12, respectively. Hosted by Oscar®-winning visual effects supervisor Craig Barron and Oscar-winning sound designer Ben Burtt, the programs will explore studio production methods of the era, the use of matte paintings in key scenes, and the origins of the film's sound effects. Both programs will begin at 7 p.m.

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) is one of only two motion pictures produced by Liberty Films, the independent company Frank Capra and Samuel J. Briskin created in 1945. Although the film performed only modestly at the box office when it was first released, it went on to earn five Oscar nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Best Actor (James Stewart), Directing (Capra), Film Editing (William Hornbeck) and Sound Recording (RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, sound director).

The inventors of the snow machine that made its debut with the film won an Academy Technical Achievement Award in 1948. Synthetic snow replaced bleached cornflakes, the previous method of simulating falling snow in movies.

http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2011/20111205.html

Film pick of the Week "Miss Nobody"

Miss Nobody Synopsis: A mild-mannered secretary discovers that she has a talent for murder as she ascends the corporate ladder

Leslie Bibb combines a naive outlook with her own personal justification that carries the film. Everything in this film works, this is a fun (and surprisingly non-violent) murderous trip into the corporate world that could well be a sleeper hit like Office Space was - it is a good little film, with loads of character actors that you'll recognize, a strong romance, and suspense, and is, all in all, a wry take on corporate life.

Home Film Pick of the Week: Dance of the Dead

"Dance of the Dead" - 2008

Directed by Gregg Bishop



Since I am a huge zombie film fan, but being surrounded by so many that disappoint, I was surprised to have actually enjoyed the classic zombie feel this movie had. You can tell at times that this was a low-budget flick and pretty indie, but had a decent story line. I thought the direction, script, and acting were all very well executed...especially for a bunch of relative unknowns.  I would best describe this  film as John Hughes meets George Romero. "Dance of the Dead" is is an entertaining and gore horror comedy with a huge potential for cult-movie status.