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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tag: Article

Some of the Best Post-Credit Scenes

In the spirit of transgressing rules and leaving out important information that might just represent another turn of the screw, many films include post-credits scenes that in many cases represent the actual ending of the movie. But not all viewers might know which films ended differently, so we bring you a list of some of the best and most classic post-credits scenes of our times. Older than we imagine, post-credits sequences have been in our film culture for a long time, becoming more frequent over the past decade.

Source: Wikimedia

However exciting it might be to discover some of these scenes, there is no need to rush back from your vacations; you can wait until you make the most of your beach escapade or enjoy your favorite summer sports events to the last breath. You’ll have plenty of time to see these films again — at least their endings — when you go back home. Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen some of them, just save the titles and watch what lies behind the credits after you see the whole film.

Source: Vimeo

Remember Tarantino’s action-packed Django Unchained? The last part of the film was highly satisfying and one definitely wouldn’t expect more. But what if you were left wondering what happened to the secondary antagonist Stephen, played by Samuel L. Jackson — who has been in six Tarantino films so far — after Django obtained his freedom. If you were, then you might not want to miss this after credit scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQXXsLkTwxQ%20

If you are a Pirates of The Caribbean franchise fan, then you’re in for a treat. Remember Pirates of The Caribbean: At World’s End? Once this three-hour-long epic, fantasy movie ended, most viewers likely thought that was it. As it turns out, if they had waited a little longer, they would have discovered what happened to Elizabeth and Will ten years later, when the latter was finally free from the ship. Marvel movies also love post-credits scenes and they usually include them to unveil what might take place in the next movie. These famous genre films that take some of the most beloved comic book heroes and antiheroes to the big screen has made post-credits scenes famous, starting with Iron Man, which includes two crucial moments both in the 2008 film and 2010 sequel. In the latter, a famous hammer is found: One that leads to another Marvel screen adaptation, Thor (2011). In turn, this movie revolving around the famous Norse mythological character includes its very own after credit scene that, in this case, provides hints about what will happen with The Avengers. Other Marvel films that include these types of scenes include Captain AmericaThe Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant Man, and Doctor Strange, among others.

Source: Pexels

Going back to the 80s, there is one classic movie in which the post-credits scene has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Starring Matthew Broderick, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, in which the lead character constantly looks at the camera and talks to the audience, contains a funny after credits scene. In it, Bueller approaches the camera and addresses those viewers who are still sitting in the movie theater once the film has ended, telling them: “You’re still here? It’s over. Go home.”

Source: Flickr

There are far more films and TV series’ that use post-credits either to add to the storyline, give a twist to the ending, or even confuse viewers, often leading them to think that some things are not what they seem. Whichever end these scenes may have, it is true that they have become some sort of tradition that many of us look forward to, especially in genre and terror films, with a list that gets longer as time goes by. Just like when one would listen to a tape backward hoping to find hidden lyrics, post-credits sequences have become something to look forward to finding revealing info that is intentionally left out, possibly so we can find it ourselves and feel further involved in the films we watch.

How 2015 become a battle for supremacy between Jurassic Park & Star Wars

In 2015 two specific films stood out as wildly successful, taking record amounts at the box office globally. These were Jurassic World, which was released in June, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opened to massive anticipation around the globe just in time for a Christmas treat.

Both films are the latest installments in hugely successful movie franchises that stretch back decades into film history. Jurassic World is the fourth film in the Jurassic Park series. It picks up the story 22 years after the original film was set. Now a dinosaur theme park and luxury holiday destination, Isla Nublar has a new attraction – a fearsome genetically modified family of dinosaurs that present visitors with serious danger as well as a slice of natural history come to life. Chris Pratt stars as Owen, a character who was a child in the original film but is now a fully grown scientist hero who must save the day.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens also transported audiences to a completely different world. This time, original characters including Princess Leia (now General Leia Organa) and Han Solo are joined by a number of newbies to tell the next part of the story. Three decades have passed since Darth Vader’s defeat and Luke Skywalker is missing. Scavenger Rey, her BB-8 droid and a rebel Stormtrooper pool their efforts to find him and defeat the dark side.

While Jurassic World took an impressive $1.7 billion at the box office, its rival beat it with an astronomical and record-breaking $2 billion. However, box office figures aren’t the only ones that count when it comes to measuring a film’s success. For the studios behind each film, their own share price will have been a key performance indicator following release. The studio that made Jurassic World is Universal. Following the dinosaur movie’s arrival in cinemas, Universal’s share price performance was up 6.34%. Disney, who bought the Star Wars franchise from Lucasfilm, fared slightly better following Star Wars: The Force Awaken’s release. Its share price performance improved by 20.3%. This seems to indicate that Disney’s film can be called the overall victor. However, not all the statistics tell the same story. Universal’s total gross on all films was $5.96 billion to Disney’s $3.33 billion. Contrarily, when it comes to profitability, although Universal boasts an impressive 19.3%, IG noted that, due to Star Wars success this figure is overshadowed by Disney’s 24%.

So when it comes to this long-standing double rivalry, between the two film franchises and the two studios, which product emerges as the overall winner? Although on many fronts it was a close call, for sheer box office clout and audience numbers, as well as studio share price and profitability, Star Wars: The Force Awakens walks away as winner.
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Article by: Conor Doherty

Jurassic Facts

With the release of Jurassic World creating huge excitement today, what better time to brush up on your dinosaur knowledge and learn your T. Rex from your Velociraptor? The interactive Jurassic Facts Campaign is here to answer your prayers.

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The website is set up like an interactive book, where you scroll through to access the next page. You can also use the left navigation bar to jump to the dinosaur you want to find facts about. No need to scroll through them all if you don’t want. There are eight dinosaurs in total, and each includes an image of their footprint, food, teeth and ability.

You can also click on the tabs at the bottom to find detailed facts about each dinosaur, their size, discovery or movies tabs at the bottom of each page to find detailed facts about that dinosaur.  There’s even guidance on how to say the names of each dinosaur, and what they sounded like.

What dinosaurs are included?

  • Tyrannosaurus Rex
  • Dilophosaurus
  • Velociraptor
  • Pterodactyl
  • Brachiosaurus
  • Triceratops
  • Spinosaurus
  • Mystery dinosaur created especially for @Jurassicfacts

Well worth a visit to the site, particularly if you’re already a Jurassic Park fan, or want to use it as an educational piece for your children!

Check out our Jurassic World Mega Post for a whole load of images, trailers and information about the new release!

Casino Eras and their Characters on the Silver Screen

One of the main reasons for a film being a cinematic success or a resounding flop is the way the characters are seen on screen. Whether the actors are portraying fictional or non-fictional figures from one of the most important historical eras, ensuring all the finer details are covered will make the character a triumph. One of the more popular traits throughout history is gambling, with on-screen figures from a whole host of time periods seen to be throwing around the stakes.

So you can gauge an idea of what sort of character you’d be, here are some of the most famous on-screen figures from true gambling eras.

The Cowboy – Bret Maverick (Maverick, 1994)

Based on the 1950s’ television series, Maverick brings out the best of gambling in the Wild West. Brett Maverick, played by Mel Gibson, is a card playing con artist who needs $3000 to enter into a high stakes poker game. Cheating was rife in the Cowboy era, with nearly every card game ending with someone trying to bend the rules and the outcome. The final game in the film is littered with fixed hands, but when Maverick wins with an unbeatable flush, the ill-tempered Angel attempts to kill him. The Wild West brought with it its own morals – the rules were that there weren’t any rules – and Bret nearly faced the consequences by getting gunned down by one of his unhappy opponents.


Source http://fr.web.img2.acsta.net/medias/nmedia/18/36/24/96/18867573.jpg

The Bootlegger – Antonio Camonte (Scarface, 1932)

Although most people will be more familiar with the Al Pacino version of Scarface, the mob boss first hit the silver screen back in 1932. The film follows the life and times of the leader himself, Antonio “Tony” Camonte, highlighting the corruption and illegal activities which ran riot during the Prohibition era in Chicago. In true Bootlegger style, Camonte has a no-holds barred attitude and isn’t afraid to show his true emotions, seen in his famous quote “This fellow’s got ideas I don’t like”. Tony will do anything to ensure he is victorious in the gang wars, ranging from playing off the police to keep their distance, to killing his enemies just so he remains number one and victorious.


Source http://www.dvdizzy.com/images/s/scarface-17.jpg

The Player – Phil (The Hangover, 2009)

With a trilogy of films now under its belt, The Hangover series is regarded as one of the funniest sagas in modern day cinema. Phil shows all the characteristics and traits of the Player – being so cool and sophisticated that Alan is desperate to be just like him! As they continue to try find the groom-to-be Doug, the men are forced to the blackjack table in an attempt to raise $80,000 so they can get their friend back. Although Alan takes to the table in the style of The Rainman, Phil is his calm and composed right hand man, helping him win all the cash they needed. Yet when Phil finds out that Mr Chow has in fact got the wrong Doug, he shows the traits seen in a Bootleggers as he completely loses his tempter!

To see whether you are a Swinger like Austin Powers or a tough Bootlegger like Al Capone, Ladbrokes Casino have put together a quiz asking how you would react in a gaming situation. Would you flip the table in anger if you lost, or risk it all after you’ve won the jackpot?

3 Best Desert-Island Films

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Not many situations could be worse than waking up one day and being completely alone, stranded and away from the rest of civilization. And it’s long been a plot central to movies, though some characters fair better than others. A little worse for wear, there characters made it back safely. Here are a few of the best cinematic stranded-on-a-desert-island depictions.

‘Robinson Crusoe’

“Robinson Crusoe,” based on the classic book of the same name, is the quintessential desert-island story of the modern era. The titular character, Robinson, played by Pierce Brosnan must survive and thrive on this island, brave the elements, learn to survive and avoid being harried by the local tribes. By adding the elements of having to deal with a local population in addition to living against nature makes this very different from the other movies in this list. “Robinson Crusoe” is a special story because it was one of the first modern retelling of various castaway stories like those that were found in the Odyssey and other early works. Along with a fantastic performance from Brosnan, leads “Robinson Crusoe” to one of the top spots on this list.

Rating: 7/10

‘Lord of the Flies’

What would happen if one day civilization just fell apart? This is exactly the premise of the “Lord of the Flies.” A group of students survives a plane crash and needs to work together to survive. At first they build a rudimentary society with basic rules and taboos but it quickly disintegrates as fear grips the boys and causes them to turn on one another. The film targets the larger implications of how people act in tough situations without the greater pressures from a larger society. The uniqueness around this story stems from the age of the characters: teenagers. They’re expected to run a society without the life experience to do it.

Rating: 7/10

‘Cast Away’

The 2000 movie, “Cast Away,” staring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis, is the best desert-island movie out there. “Cast Away” is all about the struggles Chuck Noland (Hanks) has after he survices a plane crash and washes up on an island in the middle of nowhere. While other movies of this nature allow the main character to have some sort of living companion, whether other survivors or animals from their environment, Noland is completely without any sort of intelligent stimulation for the several years he is stranded on the island. A few FedEx packages wash up on shore. Among them: a Wilson volleyball, which becomes his friend. Watch this heart-wrenching scene here. The isolation is both intense and riveting, the lack of real dialogue allows Hanks to focus on his actions driving the emotion and interest in the story. Noland chooses to not open one of the packages. He doesn’t know what it contains (What if there was a satellite phone in there?!) “Cast Away” is a relatable film, as Noland is just a man who wants to get home to his wife. It’s a riveting story of survival and hope.

Rating: 9/10

1979’s ‘Alien’ Continues to be Relevant Decades Later

Alien isn’t one of those films that people still quote lines from in normal conversations. The special effects don’t come close to rivaling those created with today’s technology, and there are a few glaring editorial mistakes throughout the picture with actor position and dialogue.

And yet, 35 years after its release, the film consistently garners headlines by regularly launching new related projects for all forms of entertainment. These include everything from films and games to theme park rides—an avenue usually reserved for newer franchises. While it’s not uncommon for a successful film to expand their profit through different merchandising strategies, the fact that Alien can still warrant the same amount of attention 35 years later is nothing short of impressive. It’s the success of these subsequent projects that serves as a true testimony to just how much the film was, and still is, obsessively loved by fans.

Books

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Even though it was just released at the end of October, Alien the Archive: The Ultimate Guide to the Classic Movies quickly claimed a best-seller spot in Amazon‘s “Computer Graphic Design” category.

The book celebrates the process of making of the original film as well as the three sequels by highlighting the exhaustive processes that helped make the films into the box office hits. This includes the creation of storyboards, behind-the-scenes imagery, and costume, weapon, and set designs. They also include printed interviews with director Ridley Scott and cast and crew members to give readers perspective on what working on the film was really like.

Games

In the most recent development for the franchise, Betfair has released a new game featuring the iconic extraterrestrials in the form of a video slot. While matching the animated aliens can lead to big riches, some commenters said that they were too scared to play it, claiming the aliens in the game gave them the same unsettling feeling the ones in the movie did. Obviously, it’s not too much for the majority of people. Even though the site released several new titles around the same time, they certainly know the popularity attached to this particular game. If you visit the site, it will likely be the most prominently displayed option with banners celebrating its release.

Other gaming companies have put out projects related to the films as well. Just released a few weeks ago, console game Alien: Isolation was designed as a direct sequel to the original film. The first-person survival/horror/stealth game has received extremely positive accolades from players and reviewers alike who say it pays homage to the intensity of the film. The Telegraph gave it a 4.5/5 star rating, calling it “a stressful, bold and brilliant interpretation of sci-fi’s most terrifying monster.”

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Attractions

Unfortunately, the majority of theme park rides based on films come from new franchises. That means that those of us who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s have seen the rides we loved as kids demolished and replaced with ones that fit the new generation’s trends. Although we’ve said goodbye to rides for Back to the Future, Jaws, and King Kong, those looking to get that “in the movie” experience can look forward to an Alien ride in 2016—if you’re willing to travel to Asia that is.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Fox’s new theme park will feature an Alien-themed ride when it opens its gates in Malaysia in two years. It’s still unclear exactly how the movie will be implemented into the ride’s design, but given that it’s the film studio’s first park, they’ll probably be looking to impress patrons by giving them a one-of-a-kind experience.

How to Cut or Eliminate Your Cable Bill (Hint: Start Streaming Already)

HowToCutArticle

As Bobby Boucher’s mama would say, cable is the devil. More specifically, cable costs are. People are purging unnecessary expenses in their lives, and the rising cost of cable is one of them. Smart TVs, streaming services and streaming players have opened up how we watch movies and TV, proving that you no longer need to be chained to a cable box to enjoy them.

Downsize Your Cable Bill

Thanks to new technology and competition among service providers, you are in a good position to bargain with your cable provider. When starting new service, a company will usually give you a nice discounted price for six months to a year. When that time is up, your bill gets jacked up to full cost—all of a sudden your bill goes from $60 a month to $165 or more a month. This is when you call your cable provider and request to find ways to reduce your bill.

Maybe you can cut the bundled service of phone, high-speed Internet, DVR and the high-tier movie packages. Ask for cheaper plans or tell them you are considering leaving the company. Asking for their “retention department” will get you in touch with staff who want to keep you and are authorized to offer you a less costly package.

Switch to Streaming

You could also cut the cable cord completely; there is, after all, a reason the cable industry recently reported its worst 12-month stretch in history, as reported by Business Insider. Streaming over the Internet has become the new (and cheaper) way to get your entertainment programming. With high-speed Internet, smart TVs, mobile devices and streaming gadgets, you can get the latest movies and TV shows and avoid the swelled costs of cable. Two popular choices:

  • With Netflix, you can stream for only $9 a month and have access to a plethora of movies and TV shows. Netflix offers popular series like “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black,” which can’t be accessed through cable TV.
  • Hulu costs about the same as Netflix and the streaming setup is the same, though there are other differences. But having an account with both of these services is still only a fraction of what your cable bill would be.

Enhance your streaming experience by adding a Roku to your TV. With an additional connection like this, you plug into hundreds of free channels and rental options through M-GO, VUDU, Redbox or Amazon Instant Video, and you get access to Showtime Anytime, WatchDisney, WatchESPN and FoxNow. You will even be able to pick up local TV stations.

Let’s Not Forget YouTube

YouTube alone can provide hours of free entertainment. Full-length shows like Comedy Central’s “Drunk History” are available on YouTube, and you can download apps like The History Channel, too, where you can purchase and download full seasons of shows like “American Pickers” and “Ice Road Truckers.”

You have significant options when it comes reducing your cable bill or getting rid of it entirely. Who knows—as more people migrate from cable, the cable companies may cut their prices even more. Then you could always go back, if you wanted to.

Guest article

Battle For The Net

If you woke up tomorrow, and your internet looked like this, what would you do?

Imagine all your favorite websites taking forever to load, while you get annoying notifications from your ISP suggesting you switch to one of their approved “Fast Lane” sites.

Think about what we would lose: all the weird, alternative, interesting, and enlightening stuff that makes the Internet so much cooler than mainstream Cable TV. What if the only news sites you could reliably connect to were the ones that had deals with companies like Comcast and Verizon?

On September 10th, just a few days before the FCC’s comment deadline, public interest organizations are issuing an open, international call for websites and internet users to unite for an “Internet Slowdown” to show the world what the web would be like if Team Cable gets their way and trashes net neutrality. Net neutrality is hard to explain, so our hope is that this action will help SHOW the world what’s really at stake if we lose the open Internet.

If you’ve got a website, blog or tumblr, get the code to join the #InternetSlowdown here: https://battleforthenet.com/sept10th

Everyone else, here’s a quick list of things you can do to help spread the word about the slowdown: http://tumblr.fightforthefuture.org/post/96020972118/be-a-part-of-the-great-internet-slowdown

Get creative! Don’t let us tell you what to do. See you on the net September 10th!

via Battle For The Net.

Lighting for Mood: A Film Director’s Cheatsheet

Studio Lighting.

The lead-in music begins, an outline is drawn on the wall, then Alfred Hitchcock’s shadow steps onstage and perfectly fits the outline. So began another episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” capturing the imagination of prime-time audiences. Even now, Hitchcock’s work is a videographer’s primer in how to use light and shadow to set the mood.

Always remember, lighting not only affects the clarity of your video work but also how it feels.

Light: Which Kind Does the Scene Need?

Richard K. Ferncase’s “Basic Lighting Worktext for Film and Video” (1992) is the book on lighting you are most likely to read at film school. For a deep dive into the topic of lighting, you can do no better than to study Ferncase and work through the exercises given. This article will give you only a taste of a topic you could spend a lifetime investigating.

First and foremost, it all starts with light type and texture. You first need to know what type of light you need. Some common types include:

  • Hard light: Think small, intense, harsh. During the early afternoon, unfiltered by clouds, sunlight throws shadows with sharp, distinct edges. Hard light comes from a single source and travels without angular deflection to the surface. For example, Hitchcock’s shadow was created by hard light. The mood cast by this type of light can range from eerie and hidden to in-your-face and threatening. When using artificial lighting, remember that the smaller the source, the harsher the light will be.
  • Soft light: A beautiful woman in a flowing white dress, she holds a red rose and shakes her long, brown hair as she walks towards her waiting escort. The lighting is gentle and without harsh shadows. This is soft lighting. The moods emphasized with this type of lighting include romantic, seductive, non-threatening and comfortable. Remember, the larger and more diverse the source of light is and the wider the coverage, the softer the light will be. Soft light arrives from a variety of angles and can seem more natural than hard light. But, be careful about depending too much on soft light because it can get wearing on your audience, if not interrupted by hard light scenes to wake them up.
  • Combination light: Typically, you will work with lighting that lies somewhere in the range between hard and soft. When setting up the scene, try moving the lights around to see how it affects the mood. When shooting outside, you can move from direct light to shade. Inside, you can switch the size of the lamps and the diffusion to adjust mood. Shades, drapes or blinds might also be helpful inside to help lighten, darken or provide mixed light to the scene. Your inner artist will be able to feel the mood as it changes, so trust your instinct.

Use Color to Set the Mood

Videographers have special tricks in the tool bag. One of those is a knowledge of how color affects the psyche. To excel as a film director, you must not only be an artist but a psychologist.

As the artist carefully chooses from the palette to get just the right combination of colors, so the film director can influence the mood by adjusting the light color as well as the set and costume color. If you don’t see how color can affect mood, just think about our language—we see red when we’re angry, sometimes we become green with envy and occasionally we feel blue. Colors are powerful triggers and have a dramatic influence on mood.

Many medical professionals study color and often advise patients to make adjustments in their living spaces to better facilitate desired moods. Color consultant Leslie Harrington explains, “What color you paint your walls isn’t just a matter of aesthetics. It’s a tool that can be leveraged to affect emotions and behavior.”

If you are serious about film, you should study the technical aspects. Find out all you can about cameras, lights and the array of tools at your disposal. Then, film with your heart and see with your emotions, for your viewers are hoping to not only view your film but to experience it.

Guest article

One Wild Ride: The “Sons of Anarchy” Craze Continues

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You hear the engines roar before you see them coming. A group of headlights pierce through the dark night as a gang of men on motorcycles races toward you. Faithful followers of the FX show “Sons of Anarchy” are more than familiar with this scene. Sex, drugs, violence, betrayal and drama have been the winning combination for SOA for the past six years. And with “Sons of Anarchy” returning Sept. 9 for its highly anticipated final season, there’s still time for one last ride.

The Rise of SOA’s Leading Characters

The show centers around the SOA Motorcycle Club; A club rife with drama between rival gangs, illegal activities and twisted familial relationships. Jax Teller is the key protagonist of this rowdy and wild Kurt Sutter creation. Jax is a fan favorite who is often found struggling between following the right path or the dark one. Along with Jax, Sutter has created an entire cast of characters audiences are naturally drawn to. There are heroes and villains, with new characters each season to add a new layer to the mix. We root for Jax, feel sympathy for Tara and hope for the demise of anybody getting in Jax’s way.

The Real Stars of the Show

But the show is about the motorcycle club, and the motorcycles themselves are their own characters. The men are always seen riding or fixing their bikes. The characters care about their bikes; it’s sacrilegious to mess with another man’s bike, and doing so is a punishable offense. Prominently featured in chase scenes and rides, these bikes are representative of strength, power and masculinity. Actor Charlie Hunnam (Jax) even rides a motorcycle in his everyday life. SOA is creating an image and persona associated with motorcycles that fans want to be a part of.

A Growing Motorcycle Community

“Sons of Anarchy” continues to get people talking about and riding motorcycles. Shining a light on a lesser-known community, the show has helped motorcycles gain popularity with even the mainstream. Fan websites have pages dedicated to the motorcycles on the show. “Sons of Anarchy” is so popular, FX made a deal with Harley-Davidson to create limited edition motorcycles inspired by the show. Not ready for a life-size bike? You can even get die-cast models of the motorcycles ridden by Jax, Opie, Clay and JT.

Motorcycle sales and registrations have increased 75 percent overall in the past 10 years, according to the US Department of Transportation. More and more people are trading in their four doors for quicker, more fuel efficient motorcycles. But, not all of us can be in hardcore biker gangs like the boys of SOA. If you’re interested in learning more about the biker lifestyle, visit Bike Bandit’s online community page. There you can learn about different models and brands, safety tips, proper motorcycle maintenance and you can even see what other people are doing with their motorcycles. It’s a great resource for riders and biker fans alike.

Guest article

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