I'm a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959).
No matter how many times I watch this movie, I am still mesmerized by the suspense and intrigue. We have mistaken identity, a femme fatale, a spy ring, a smuggling operation, and some really bad guys. Not to mention a getaway car heading for a cliff, a train, a desert road with a crop duster out to kill, culminating with a chase up Mount Rushmore.
The story in a nutshell: Roger Thornhill, advertising executive from NYC is mistaken for a spy. Life and death hang in the balance.
Fabulous cast:
Jimmy Stewart coveted the role of Thornhill, but Hitchcock wanted Cary Grant. Hitch also wanted Sophia Loren for the femme fatale. That didn't happen. The studio pushed for Cyd Charisse, but Hitchcock went with Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendall, the spy and love interest of Roger Thornhill.
James Mason is the bad guy, Phillip VanDamm. And the illustrious Martin Landau is his henchman, Leonard
Hitchcock includes humor and witty dialog, particularly between Roger and his mother, played by Jessie Royce Landis.
When Roger and Eve meet on the train, their romance begins:
ROGER: What's wrong with men like me?
EVE: They don't believe in marriage.
ROGER: I've been married twice.
EVE: See what I mean?
I'm also impressed with the opening credits animation featuring skyscrapers and a cool graphic of architectural pencil drawings. This is enhanced with a dramatic score by Bernard Hermann, who wrote the music for Psycho.
Alfred Hitchcock makes a cameo appearance (as he usually did in his films) a the man who misses the bus.
It's a shame that they don't make movies like this anymore.
What's your favorite Hitchcock film?
Our Downton Abbey documentary is finally coming together in post production. A few years have lapsed after the final shooting of the film. Everyone on the film crew was busy with other projects and "Wyoming Quilts Downton Abbey" was put on the back burner.
But now we have been editing the footage and getting everything ready to submit the film to Wyoming PBS.
Interestingly, the release of this film coincides with the release of the Downton Abbey feature film that will be released in 2019. Perfect timing. Perhaps this delay was meant to be. We couldn't have planned it better.
Stay tuned for updates.
Carpe Diem!
I haven't been to the cinema in a long time, nothing lately has captured my fancy. Until "The Darkest Hour."
I actually went to see it twice! So why did I enjoy it so much? That's easy:
1. I am a WWII history buff. This movie takes me there in spades.
2. I've always admired how England stood against Hitler, the last bastion of Hope for Europe. It was exciting to see the drama played out in film (Chamberlain's weakness vs. Churchill's determination).
3. Superb acting by entire cast, especially Gary Oldman as Churchill.
4. Breathtaking cinematography throughout.
5. Setting and costumes - perfect beauty and historical accuracy.
6. Script/Story - wonderful to see the desperation of Churchill and the pressure to negotiate with Hitler by the War Cabinet. Makes one wonder what would have happened if Churchill had conceded. I can't imagine the horrifying result!
Because of this movie, I was inspired to do some reading on one of my favorite topics - the Resistance during WWII. So many wonderful stories of Christians saving Jews during the Nazi regime. One book in particular that captured my soul is "Things We Couldn't Say" by Diet Eman. I've also enjoyed Corrie Ten Boom's "The Hiding Place," and "The Diary of Anne Frank."
Is there a movie you've seen lately that has inspired you?
I've been on a mystery kick for the last few weeks, watching Columbo and Murder She Wrote reruns on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel. I'm freaking out at Columbo's deceptive brilliance and Jessica Fletcher's classy detective work.
Columbo aired from 1971 to 2003.
Murder She Wrote aired from 1984 to 1996.
Columbo's glass eye is super cool. He wears a raggedy trench coat, smokes a cigar and drives a French Peugeot. He has dog named "Dog" and he's always talking with affection about his wife, who never appears on the show. (Reminds me of Fraiser - no one ever saw Maris).
As a homicide detective for the Los Angeles Police Department, Columbo doesn't appear on the scene until after the murder has taken place. This first half hour shows the murder, the motive and how the murderer covers up the crime. When Columbo arrives on the scene, the audience already knows who the killer is, but the fun is seeing Columbo put the clues together and outsmart the murderer, who totally underestimates the unassuming detective.
As for Jessica, an amateur detective who also writes mystery novels, she always happens to be in the right place when a murder is committed. She hails from a small sea coast town in Maine called Cabot Cove. A murder usually happens when Jessica is visiting her nephew, Grady, or one of her many friends. She discovers clues along the way that lead to the murderer's identity and the motive.
Watching these old TV shows, I get a kick out of seeing well-known actors is guest roles. George Clooney, Bryan Cranston, Linda Hamilton, Wayne Rogers, John Astin, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Robert Vauhgn, Anne Francis, Tyne Daly, Vera Miles, Lee Grant, Faye Dunaway, Ruth Gordon, just to name a few.
I've become a fan of detective shows and I'm glad these classic TV shows are still around. Do you have any favorite TV detective shows? (And don't even get me started on "Sherlock"! I'm a Superfan!)
Just finished a Netflix binge-watch of Longmire. The new season starts next month and I wanted to refresh my memory.
Like all Longmire season endings, this one left us with a cliff-hanger.
Malachi Strand and his henchmen left Henry Standing Bear tied to the ground facing the sun on the Crow reservation where "no one can hear him scream."
Vic is pregnant.
Cady shot a white man on the Rez and has been adopted into the tribe.
And Sheriff Walt Longmire is facing a civil suit for the unlawful death of Barlow Connally. If he loses, his land will be taken and used for a resort.
So you see, there's a lot going on and I'm waiting to see how all this works out.
I became a fan of Audrey Hepburn when she appeared in My Fair Lady (1964). I didn't see the film when it was first released (I was only 7 years old then), but it played at our local cinema in 1971 when I was 14 - and at that age Audrey Hepburn made a lasting impression on me.
The film was spectacular - glorious setting, costumes, music. I was mesmerized. So what if Audrey didn't actually sing. She lip-synced beautifully. It was magical. As a result, Audrey charmed herself into my heart wherein she still resides (forgive my flowery language, I've just finished reading Jane Eyre).
Over the years I'd seen her more popular films, Roman Holiday (1953) with Gregory Peck, Sabrina (1954) with Humphrey Bogart, and of course Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) - her signature film.
In each of these films it was a delight watching her. She's not the best actress, but the camera loves her. She is a fashion icon and always appeared elegant and stylish. I had always thought, "Audrey Hepburn is so stunning, she would look beautiful in a burlap sack!"
Little did I know that she actually appeared in a film wearing a burlap sack! The film was Green Mansions (1959) with Anthony Perkins. Audrey plays the part of Rima, a beautiful, mysterious girl that lives in the jungles of Venezuela. And she wears the same hideous burlap sack through out the film.
I don't know why anyone would think this was a good role for Audrey. People want to see her in beautiful clothes, acting pert and complicated and spunky. Not slithering around in a burlap sack wearing a long-haired wig.
As for the film itself, it is the absolute worst on every level. Fake sets, boring script, lame plot. Audrey is not the best actor, so she had absolutely nothing to work with to make it even the slightest bit interesting. The only good thing about it was seeing Anthony Perkins, who did a fairly good job. But every time I saw him on screen I thought, "Norman Bates in the jungle."
So glad Audrey didn't do another burlap sack movie!
Binge watching has become a thing. Who would have believed something like this could be possible...watching a TV show that typically would have taken years to watch on "regular" TV and now you can see entire seasons in a matter of weeks (or even days).
Back in the 80s when we got our first VCR, it was mind-blowing thinking that you could watch almost any movie you wanted whenever you wanted.
Special effects on TV shows have become equal in quality to feature films and are more cinematic than ever.
This TV evolution is somehow effecting society, but I can't put my finger on exactly how. It seems that attention spans are getting shorter and shorter...people want what they want right NOW! There is no patience...is this attitude leaking into other areas of life?
Perhaps this "computer age" is triggering a retro movement. People want to create things with their hands, they want to read a real book, write on real paper, build real things, unplug from the Matrix. I have seen it both ways, and while I enjoy the high-tech life, I'm finding that I'm deriving more pleasure from the simple things.
I'm checking out books at the library instead of downloading a book on my Kindle. I'm drawing with paper and pens rather than creating on an ipad. I'm even watching the old movies, which lately are better by far than anything coming out today in the movie theatre.
One good thing about the tech age we live in - anyone can be a filmmaker. With a computer and a video camera (or even a cell phone), films can be made and there is an audience. The power now belongs to the people, not just the filmmaking elite. That is a good thing.
Welcome to the final segment of the series.
Post-production is what to do after shooting is completed.
1) Editing software - I use Sony Vegas Movie Maker, but there are many other video editing programs. Good films have been created just by using a phone. Today everyone can make movies, which is a good thing!
2) Music - Whether to use music or not depends on what kind of film you are making. Music effects the mood of the film. Even no music at all sends a message. Just be sure to have copyright permission unless you are creating your own music.
3) Credits - Give credit to actors, tech crew and anyone else who contributed to your film, whether through time, talent or finances. Be thankful. Film is a collaborative endeavor...you can't do it alone.
4) Promotion - In today's social media universe, your film can be viewed by anyone. Start a YouTube or Vimeo account and get involved in the filmmaking community.
5) Contests - Check out the various short film festivals and contests. This is another way to get your film seen and to network with the filmmaking community.
Now start making your film! Ready, set, GO!
Sometimes when I write a film script, I have certain actors in mind. These are people that I know and have worked with before. So my story is built around my cast.
Other times, the story comes first and I don't think about the actors at all. But sooner or later, I will have to deal with casting.
If you are paying actors, then you could have auditions and can be more selective. But if your actors are volunteers, then you have other issues to deal with. Volunteers have commitments, such as jobs and families, so you have to work around their schedules. You will have to be flexible on days you can film. If they aren't professional, you may have to work with them on learning their lines, etc.
Here are some tips about working with actors on your short film:
Communication. Let the actors know what the story is about and what motivates their characters. Knowledge is a good thing. It also inspires them to think of ideas to enhance the story and their roles. Film is a collaborative effort after all.
Be flexible. Some actors like to go over a scene several times with different ways of performing the scene. You never know what can come from this - it could be truly magical.
Listen to the actors. They may have good ideas for shooting a scene or saying their lines.
Bring food. Feed them, water them, and watch them flourish. This is especially important if the actors are volunteers. It's a great way to show your thanks.
Be mindful of their personalities. Some actors need a lot of detailed direction. Others can fly by the seat of their pants with amazing results.
Be respectful.
Be thankful. Afterward, send them a card of thanks or a token of appreciation.
Build relationships. Having a group of actors that you have worked with before makes the process more efficient because you know what to expect. They are more relaxed because they know what to expect from you.
If you are not an actor yourself, take some acting classes. It will help you as a director and a filmmaker.
Next time - Post Production
Location! Location! Location!
As a filmmaker, I am continually inspired by my surroundings. Often, a location will give me an idea for a film.
Location itself is a story waiting to be told. If I'm walking on a trail in the woods, I might imagine a paranormal creature lurking in the dark. Or I'm sitting in a coffee shop and imagine a woman telling her friend about her new job as caretaker of Alcatraz.
Here are a few tips for filmmakers regarding location.
1. Do a drive by or a walk through - Look at places that are visually interesting and capture the mood of your film. Look at color, light and space. Visit the location at the time you would shoot that scene, whether day or night, or both.
2. Interiors - A suburban home? Haunted house? Apartment? Office? Restaurant kitchen? Supermarket? Elevator?
3. Exteriors - Grave yard? Football field? Park? Playground? City street? Swimming pool? Farm?
4. The shorter the film, the fewer locations should be used.
5. Get permission to use privately owned businesses or property. A location release is a document that states the terms of use.
6. When scouting your location, keep in mind the equipment you will need. Lights, camera, sound, etc. For example, a room with no windows will need special lighting. If you're outdoors, the wind may cause a problem with sound.
7. If it's a public place, keep in mind the time and day of the shoot to account for crowds. For example, there might be more people in the park on a Sunday afternoon, than during a week day.
