Auto-Tuned Mr. Rogers

Posted on June 7, 2012 at 3:00 pm

Thanks to The Wrap for sharing a heartwarming gem.  The auto-tuned Mr. Rogers is just as friendly a neighbor as the original.

I am not going to embed the clip because I am sorry to say it is followed by a brief unrelated link to another clip with some offensive language.  But do visit the YouTube page and just turn it off as soon as you see the end credit.

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Shorts Television

Oscar Candidate Filmed on a Smartphone

Posted on January 6, 2012 at 8:00 am

The Wrap reports that a contender for this year’s Oscars is “Olive,” made entirely on a smart phone, a Nokia N8.  It stars two-time Oscar nominee Gena Rowlands and its song, by Ben Lear (son of television producer Norman Lear) is on the short list for this year’s best song award.  It is a family-friendly, PG-rated story of a girl who visits three troubled adults and changes their lives without speaking.

The Wrap’s story has some fascinating details about what went on behind the scenes including an eyepiece from a dismantled 1940’s camera and dollies to movie the phone smoothly.  They also had to use hoods over their heads to keep out ambient light, just like the earliest days of movie-making.

 

 

 

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Awards Understanding Media and Pop Culture

The Wrap Raps Another ‘White Summer’ from Hollywood

Posted on May 5, 2011 at 8:25 am

The Wrap notes that despite the record-smashing opening weekend for “Fast Five,” the rest of the summer movie line-up does not feature much ethnic diversity.

“‘Fast Five’ is a great example of Hollywood getting it right,” Craig Detweiler, professor of film history at Pepperdine University, told TheWrap. “Its multi-racial cast matches the multi-racial audience. The Rock and Vin Diesel reflect the browning of America, that there is more blurring across races and cultures than ever before. The box office take reflects that.”

But after that auspicious start, the summer derails quicker than one of Diesel’s sports cars. A quick scan of the major films hitting theaters over the next few months shows that Hollywood is about to flood the marketplace — again! — with four-quadrant fare almost exclusively by and starring the ever-shrinking white plurality.

I was pleased to see one of my favorite actors, Idris Elba of “The Wire” and “Daddy’s Little Girls,” in “Thor” (playing a character who is white in the comic books).  But The Wrap has it right:

Don’t look for anybody ethnic to save the world or make it safe for democracy in “The Green Lantern” or “Cowboys and Aliens.” For that matter, “X-Men: First Class” may preach inclusion, but its cast isn’t exactly a rainbow coalition.

 

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Commentary Understanding Media and Pop Culture

More from the Muppets

Posted on January 7, 2010 at 8:00 am

The Wrap reports that the Muppets are having a comeback.

After being put to pasture a few years ago following a string of disappointing films and a ho-hum return to TV, the Muppets are a pop culture phenomenon once again.

And they’re doing it by popping up all over the Disney corporate matrix, including appearances on ABC and ESPN programs, top billing on the Walt Disney Company’s homepage and, soon, in a network special and feature film written by “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star Jason Segel.

They’ve adapted to the era of social networking with two videos that have become viral sensations.

Coming up — a Halloween special scheduled for fall 2010. Can’t wait!

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