A Little Help from a Friend Named Spielberg

Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:00 am

The New York Times has a very sweet article about how the most successful director in Hollywood acts as a sort of fairy godfather to other directors, giving them advice about cinematic storytelling.

Mr. Spielberg, 66, is considered the most influential director of our time, thanks to the impact of the 27 features that he has directed (which now include “Lincoln”). And then there are the more than 175 films that he, in one form or another, has been ultimately responsible for, mostly through his production company, Amblin, and his studio, DreamWorks.

But less recognized is the feedback that Mr. Spielberg has provided as a sounding board for filmmakers not necessarily under his authority.

My favorite of the examples in the article comes from the nifty little thriller that came out last summer, Premium Rush because of what it reveals about the language and history of film as well as about Spielberg’s attention to detail, generosity, and willingness to act as mentor due to his devotion to his colleagues and to the craft.

Mr. Koepp asked Mr. Spielberg to read an early draft of the script for 2012’s “Premium Rush,” which Mr. Koepp directed but to which Mr. Spielberg had no affiliation. The film features a bike messenger engaged in several chase sequences from one tip of Manhattan to another and back again.

Mr. Spielberg’s advice to Mr. Koepp was to show the main character entering the screen consistently from one side when he was going downtown, and to enter the other side when he was going uptown, to help orient the audience.

“He is exceedingly practical and grounded in the storytelling,” Mr. Koepp said. In giving his notes Mr. Spielberg referred to how Peter O’Toole’s character, in “Lawrence of Arabia,”does the same thing when his character crosses the desert.

Floor Plans of Movie and Television Living Spaces

Posted on March 4, 2013 at 3:49 pm

On Etsy, you can find floor plans of the homes of movie and television characters by Iñaki Aliste Lizarralde that are works of art in themselves. Look at the homes of Will and Grace, Carrie Bradshaw, Dexter, the Golden Girls, Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey, and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Holly Golightly.

An All-ASL Episode of “Separated at Birth”

Posted on March 4, 2013 at 12:58 pm

I am a huge fan of “Separated at Birth” and especially appreciate its respectful portrayal of Deaf culture. Tonight’s episode, which deals with the pending shut-down of a school for the deaf, is all-ASL (with subtitles). Not to be missed. For more information, see this background video.

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Television

Trailer: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Posted on March 4, 2013 at 8:00 am

This one looks every bit as adorable (and as unrelated to the book) as the first one.

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Animation Trailers, Previews, and Clips

Bill Harley: Win a CD!

Posted on March 3, 2013 at 4:00 pm

Here is how much my family loves the brilliant and hilarious singer/songwriter/story-teller Bill Harley. Even though we played and played and played his music until we all knew it inside out, we would still sit in the driveway until the end of a song or story. Many of our family’s most-beloved catch-phrases and in-jokes are inspired by Harley. Favorites included You’re in Trouble with “Dad Threw the TV Out the Window,” “When You Don’t Know What It Is,” the title song, and “I’m Busy,” Dinosaurs Never Say Please, with the title story about a boy who turns into a T-Rex and the very funny “Bojabi” and the classic “Master of All Masters.” We also love “You’re Not the Boss of Me,” “50 Ways to Fool Your Mother,” “Cool in School,” and many, many more.

It was a great treat to see Harley perform live at Sirius/XM’s Kid’s Place with Keith Munslow, accompanied by Harley’s son Dylan on drums. Harley has a gift for putting the biggest and most complicated and universal experiences into the most accessible terms. It is not just the simplicity of language, but the humor that he uses to make scary situations and feelings like jealousy and insecurity more manageable. The title of his new CD comes from a song named by a Kid’s Place contest: “It’s Not Fair to Me,” and the children in the audience shrieked with laughter at the familiarity and silliness of the claims. Munslow’s “My Eraser” is not just a tribute to the very useful pink spongey part of a pencil; it is an astute and reassuring observation about correcting all kinds of mistakes. Possibly the biggest hit at the performance was the very funny “Hideous Sweater,” a tribute to the articles of clothing we love beyond (and without) reason.

I am delighted to have two Harley CDs to give away, It’s Not Fair to Me (with Munslow) and the story collection High Dive & Other Things That Could Have Happened. If you’d like to enter, send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with Harley in the subject line and tell me your favorite silly song. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only) I’ll pick a winner at random on March 10.