Long-lost George Lucas “Star Wars” Film

Posted on March 11, 2014 at 11:00 am

Esquire has a fascinating story about a short film called “Black Angel,” “created to accompany The Empire Strikes Back in theaters. It was the directorial debut of Star Wars‘ pioneering set decorator Roger Christian and a special request by the big man himself, George Lucas…Found and now digitally restored, Black Angel is soon to be released for the world to see. It has nothing to do with Star Wars characters, but its making-of story commands a comfortable seat in the large history of the galaxy far, far away.” It has now been restored, and Christian hopes to make it available via iTunes.

Anyone remember seeing this?

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Behind the Scenes Shorts

Esquire Picks the 100 Best Television Shows for Men

Posted on March 20, 2012 at 8:00 am

Esquire has come up with a list of the 100 best television programs for men because “Never before have there been so many things to watch quite so enjoyably.” Comedy comes out on top with #1 (“The Colbert Report”) and #2 (“The Daily Show”) and sitcoms (“Modern Family,” “Seinfeld,” “30 Rock”), along with reality (“Dirty Jobs,” “Whale Wars,” “Mythbusters”) and lots of pretty girls (Maria Menounos on “Extra”) and drama (“Breaking Bad,” “Justified”), and news (PBS’s “NewsHour,” Chris Matthews). They have classics like “Seinfeld” and forthcoming programs like Lena Dunham’s “Girls” premiering on HBO in April. And they even include a cooking show, “Barefoot Contessa.” Plus “Ted Danson” in anything, the opening theme song for “Parks and Recreation,” and “The Godfather,” any time it’s on, in any version. Some of the choices are obvious: ESPN and some reality show about belching lungfish. Some…not–“The View?” And there are some I’ve put on my DVR list. I had no idea Discovery has a show called “Sunrise Earth” that just shows a sunrise, real time, no music.

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Television

Quote of the Week: Jeff Daniels

Posted on July 23, 2009 at 3:41 pm

Jeff Daniels is interviewed in the current issue of Esquire, where he made an important point about the difference between the way a character actor and a star approach a role.

Stars like to be likable. The Squid and the Whale is a perfect example. You get to the end scene, and that’s the point where the star turns to Noah Baumbach, the director, and says, “You know what’d be good? If I had a speech, heart-to-heart, a lot of tears. I’ve actually written something you might like.” It happens all the time. Noah and I — never. Not a word. If the guy’s got flaws, wear them on your sleeve. And stars don’t like to do that. And they’re paying you $20 million to do that thing you did that America loves, now just do it for them. It’s true.

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Actors Quote of the Week