Robert Pattison’s Latest Images Surface online from “COSMOPOLIS”

Latest images from the film Cosmopolis an upcoming drama film directed by David Cronenberg, starring with the London based actor, model, musician, and producer Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson, Known as Robert Pattinson, have been unleashed online.

We have been seeing Kristen Stewart’s lover boy most of the time in The Twilight Saga, playing as a Vampire and love life of Bella Swan, but the New images from Cronenberg‘s adaptation of Don DeLillo‘s Cosmopolis have found their way online and they Pattison in entirely different and new look. This movie is based on a newlywed billionaire (Rob) who ends up losing his bride and his billions in a single day.

Although Edward Cullen from Twilight has played other lead roles in films like “Remember Me or Water for Elephants” however he could not grab the audiences much towards the screens, comparing to his Twilight Films.

The film was initially locked in by the S.W.A.T star and Irish actor “Colin Farrell” main role but left due to scheduling difficulties with, Total Recall, directed by Len Wiseman. Even French actress and singer Marion Cotillard was also involved in the project but also left because of scheduling conflicts. Later the confirmed crew which moved ahead to complete the film include along with Pattison, Sarah Gadon, Kevin Durand, Jay Baruchel, Samantha Morton, Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti, and Mathieu Amalric.  Cosmopolis will likely hit theaters in 2012.

The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Don DeLillo. The shooting for this film started in May and ended in July 2011 in Manhattan, New York as well as Toronto, Ontario. The movie is distributed by Entertainment One and the studios involved in this project are Alfama Films, Kinology, Prospero Pictures and Toronto Antenna.

Jason Segel says playing a lovable loser comes naturally

If there's one character actor Jason Segel seems to have mastered, it's that of the lovable loser. He began his career playing one on the television show "Freaks and Geeks" as a high school stoner with an unrequited crush. In "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," he played a dopey guy kicked to the curb by his more successful and attractive girlfriend. And in "I Love You, Man," his schlubby character spent his days playing guitar and picking up women at open houses. 

In "Jeff, Who Lives at Home," the latest project from sibling filmmaker team Mark and Jay Duplass, Segel tackles the archetype again. This time he's Jeff, an idealistic 30-year-old who lives in his mother's basement, takes bong hits and finds meaningful signs in late-night infomercials. 

Why Do Talented Actors Keep Doing Adam Sandler Movies?

Jack (Adam Sandler) brings his twin sister, Jill (also Sandler), to a Lakers game. Across the Staples Center, Al Pacino spots the siblings. Smitten with Jill’s swarthy “beauty,” the Oscar winner sends her a hot dog on which he has used mustard to pen his personal phone number. “Call me,” he requests. 

“Call your agent,” I wanted to respond to Pacino. 

The scene in the Jack & Jill trailer’s supposed to get a laugh. Sou why, then, does it break my heart? Audiences are supposed to be shocked that Hollywood royalty such as Pacino would find Jill attractive. Yet I’m more surprised that Pacino – whose acting resume includes such indisputable classics as Serpico, Heat, Dog Day Afternoon, Glengarry Glen Ross, Carlito’s Way and the Godfather trilogy – would agree to slum in Sandler’s latest yucky yuk fest. 

On Location: book publishers borrowing a page from Hollywood

In a sewer beneath Las Vegas, a lethal vixen named Abigail is locked in a mortal struggle with an outlaw cowboy with ties to Greek gods.

The scene, recently filmed over three days on a sound stage in Glendale, wasn't for a new sci-fi TV series or movie.

It was for a 30-second commercial spot aired on Google TV to promote “Retribution,” the latest chapter in the popular paranormal book series “Dark Hunter” from bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Such commercials, or so-called book trailers, have become increasingly common as publishers look for novel ways to market their bestsellers at a time when fewer people are buying physical copies of books and chains such as Borders Group are shutting down.

Publishers, which are reducing author advances and slashing print runs, have begun to spend big money to produce full-blown dramatizations that bring book characters to life. That’s a far cry from only a few years ago when publishers promoted their books using commercials containing a few stock photos and voice-over narration.

The trend has created a niche business for local filmmaker Chris Roth, a former creative advertising designer. In March, he and his brother, Steve, and two other partners launched the Los Angeles company the Other House, which specializes in producing commercials for books such as “Retribution.”

The company has produced more than 50 spots for publishing giants Random House and St. Martin's Press, most of them shot locally, Roth said. The 15- to 30-second spots air on cable channels such as Syfy and MTV, Internet outlets including Google TV and Hulu, online gaming sites and at movie theaters.

“We’re doing four or five of these a month and there are no signs of this letting up,’’ said Roth. “The budgets just keep growing.”

Roth, a 31-year-old native of Los Angeles, studied illustration at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Before launching his company, he worked for several years as a freelance visual effects artist and animator for WCBS-TV in New York, where he produced advertising spots for clients including GE and Cadillac.

Roth’s book trailers cost as much as $50,000 each and involve a full complement of actors, computer-generated effects, costumes and set designs with the high production values of a movie trailer.

The book trailers, which often appear on social media sites, help to spur book sales, in much the same way movie trailers help market Hollywood films, said Nancy Trypuc, senior director for creative services at St. Martin’s Press.

“It’s a way for us to try to excite people prior to the book’s publication,’’ said Trypuc. “We find, especially in the paranormal space, that fans are really attracted to things like this.”

Trailers Roth produced for “Retribution” and for Kenyon’s latest book, “The Guardian,” generated 125,000 and 280,000 views on You Tube, respectively, Trypuc said.

The Other House has so far produced nine commercials for Kenyon, including several from the author’s “Dark Hunter” and “The League” series. Trailers for the latter aired on the Syfy channel.

“It gives readers a chance to visualize what the characters look like and a sense of the tone of the book,’’ said Kenyon, who recently signed a deal with Amber Entertainment to develop and produce films, television and webisodes based on her books. “When it’s done well, it really does get people who wouldn’t normally even go to a book store to say, ‘I might be interested in this.’”

Roth’s company has also produced trailers for books by other authors, including George R.R. Martin, author of “A Dance with Dragons,” part of the book series that inspired the HBO series “A Game of Thrones"; and P.C. and Kristin Cast, a mother-daughter team who wrote the hit paranormal teen romance “Destined.” The trailer for "Destined," which was filmed in L.A. with a crew of 30, will be shown in movie theaters as part of the pre-show for the Nov. 18 movie release of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.”

The Other House also has produced several trailers for Dean Koontz, bestselling author of titles including “Lost Souls” and “A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog.” The company's most recent Koontz project involved helping create an interactive website for his upcoming supernatural suspense novel “77 Shadow Street.”

Most of the company’s book trailers are filmed on a sound stage in Glendale, typically using green screen technology to digitally create backgrounds. But Roth and his creative team also frequently shoot scenes throughout L.A.

They filmed a nighttime murder scene in the arts district in downtown L.A. this summer to promote the release of “The Silent Girl” by Tess Gerritsen, the latest installment in the “Rizzoli and Isles” book series that spawned the popular TNT series. Roth cast actors who looked like the stars of the TV show who play a medical examiner and a homicide detective.

The popularity of book trailers has also been accelerated by Hollywood's growing interest in finding the next “Harry Potter” or “Twilight Saga” book series to fuel the next global movie franchise.

“It’s becoming less and less common to buy books by their cover,’’ Roth said. “It’s more about showing eye-candy to reel them in.”

Austin Film Festival showcases major talent

Cinemas and theaters all over town were swarmed with movie buffs waiting in long lines to watch screenings at this year's Austin Film Festival (AFF). A manifold of drama- soaked, laughter-ridden and dark-mattered films graced the screens of the ParamountTheatre, Hideout Theatre, Alamo Drafthouse, Regal Arbor Cinema, Rollins Theatre and Texas Spirit Theater.

Writers, directors, actors, producers and film fans mingled around downtown Austin at various parties, panels, workshops and events.AFF held several competitions and juried events, and awarded several films in categories

Natalie Casanova • Assistant Editor

like ‘narrative feature' and ‘animated short.' Johnny Depp was inaugurated as the first-ever recipient of AFF's ‘Extraordinary Contribution to Film – Acting' award, and made an appearance for the world premiere of his new film "The Rum Diary."

Here are some highlights of films I reviewed at AFF 2011:

Searching for Sonny

Shot in Texas by independent writer and director Andrew Disney, "Searching for Sonny" is a playful, comedic-noir take on a mystery movie. It's kind of like "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" meets "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," minus the comic bubbles and call-outs.

The story begins when a miserable pizza delivery guy, Elliot Knight (played by Jason Dohring), receives an invite to his high school reunion signed by his estranged friend Sonny Bosco (played by Masi Oka).

Right off the bat you feel a little sorry for Elliot's pathetic existence and wonder what went so wrong that lead him down this path of self destruction. At the reunion, Elliot runs into his old friend Gary Noble (played by Brian McElhaney) and is bombarded by his obnoxious, fraternal twin brother Calvin (played by Nick Kocher). Neither of them have seen or heard from Sonny since high school, when Elliot tried to "kill" him. Elliot's gorgeous ex-girlfriend, and everyone's secret crush, Eden Mercer (played by Minka Kelly) appears and things start to get interesting.

The group realizes Sonny invited them all, except Calvin who is clearly not part of the gang, to the party but is nowhere to be found. They are led on a hilarious, punchy wild goose chase which seemingly resembles the plot of a play they were involved in during high school, which was written by Sonny, himself.

This film is wildly entertaining and bursts at the seams with perfectly timed quips and antics.

DeadHeads

A witty and unique twist on a classic horror genre, "DeadHeads" is a tale about two "smart" zombies on a journey to find an old lover. Writers, directors and brothers Brett and Drew Pierce give a new hilarious outlook on zombies and true love.

Mike (played by Michael McKiddy) and Brent (played by Ross Kidder) find they've risen from the dead, but are still capable of intelligent thought unlike the rest of the pack of flesh-eating zombies.

Mike finds an engagement ring in his pocket and remembers he was going to propose to his girlfriend Ellie (played by Natalie Victoria).

Even though the scenario is obviously ridiculous, it's still sweet and alluring. Mike and Brent set out on a cross- country road trip, with the help of a nostalgic and raunchy old widower named Cliff (played by Harry Burkey).

The outrageously funny adventure really takes off when they realize they are being chased by zombie-killing bounty hunters that will do anything to stop them dead in their tracks.

This movie's plot is nowhere near realistic, but it's fun to watch unfold.

The Artist

Highlighting the beauty of the early age of moving pictures, "The Artist" is a glorious black and white film, directed by Michael Hazanavicius, about two silent film stars transitioning into the era of ‘talkies.'

George Valentin (played by Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie star in the late 1920s at the premiere of his latest film. A young woman, Peppy Miller (played by Bérénice Bejo) mistakenly bumps into George on the red carpet and uses that chance moment of fame to get cast in his next film.

Dujardin and Bejo seem to be perfectly cast for their roles and make their characters easy to love. George finds interest in Peppy on set, and his attraction helps her become successful actress through a few small roles she gets in George's films.

When the studio boss Zimmer (played by John Goodman) tells George the future of film is talking, George refuses to follow the changing tide. One might speculate why George is so against speaking in films, it doesn't seem to be that bigofadealbuttohimitisabane that inhibits his success.

George, still refusing to talk, funds his own silent film which fails at the box office right after the big stock market crash of 1929. His wife leaves, he sells all his possessions and wallows in misery and depression all while Peppy is enjoying the spotlight of the talking world.

The two have clashing views of the future of film, but that doesn't stop Peppy from caring for George after he hits rock bottom.

The facial expressions of all the characters are priceless and telling. Overall, the cinematography and score were beautiful and complementary.

I felt a little unsatisfied with the amount of romance in the script, but I guess it sticks to the true nature of this time piece.

Below Zero

This interesting story by "method" writer Signe Olynyk is definitely a film made for especially for writers.

It's about Jack (played by Edward Furlong), a screenwriter who has a nasty case of writer's block, and is nearing the deadline for his screenplay. He arranges to be locked in a meat cooler to help stimulate his creative juices and finish the script.

Jack dreams up a storyline similar to his own experience so far, but the main character is accidentally locked in a cooler belonging to a serial killer.

The film dips in and out of reality and breaks character often to rewind and rework situations, confusing viewers as to which story is real. Certain scenes convey a feeling of sheer loneliness and isolation, while others may make you gag in disgust.

As if the film wasn't Meta enough, in real life Olynyk actually spent time locked in the same meat cooler while writing "Below Zero's" script.

In the Middle

This short film by writer, director and actor Thomas Ward is a wonderful little display of a frustrated waitress at a middle-of-nowhere diner who is stuck serving a trio of sneering college girls on spring break.

Anyone who has worked in the service industry can empathize with the waitress' utter annoyance with the girls as they joke and engage in obnoxious banter. They try to involve the waitress in their games and debase her until she snaps.

The whole situation has a very "Twilight Zone" kind of feel to it and has you guessing what the catch is until the very last moment when the waitress realizes the jokes and games are her life.

Last Christmas

Writer and director Geoff Redknap tells a sad story of a ten-year-old boy Josh (played by Quinn Lord) as he looks after his grandmother who suffers from dementia.

At first it seems like an average Christmas Eve, with a grandson helping his grandmother with chores around the house, but clues point to an unusual twist to what is really going on.

Josh asks Nana to tell him old stories while they decorate the Christmas tree, which distracts and keeps her from knowing of the secrets of the dark, snowy world outside.

This short film exhibits a touching family relationship and emphasizes a depressing outlook on having to ‘let go.'

Another New Red Band Trailer for Seann William Scott's 'Goon' Hits

Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Michael Dowse (Fubar, Fubar 2, It's All Gone Pete Tong) returns with his latest, Goon, a raucous, hilarious take on Canada's one true national obsession — hockey — and the divisive topic of violence in the game. Co-written by Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express, Green Hornet) based on the book Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey, the film is the Canadian comedy counterpart to Jimi Hendrix's version of the "The Star Spangled Banner": sacreligious, twisted and, somehow, perversely patriotic. This premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, and was acquired by Magnet Releasing. Goon is available VOD February 24th, and in theaters March 30th.

"This has all the elements of a sports masterpiece!" Two new trailers for the same film in one day, can you handle it?! Just earlier today we featured a brand new trailer for Michael Dowse's Goon, a Canadian hockey comedy starring Seann William Scott, now we've got another new one, this time a no-holds-barred red band trailer via IGN that will knock your socks off. I can't wait to see this, it looks hilarious and extremely violent and awesome in every way that a movie about a hockey player talented at beating people up should look. The cast includes Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber, Alison Pill andEugene Levy. Round 2, Fight!

Watch the awesome new red band trailer for Michael Dowse's hockey comedy Goon, via IGN:

First trailer to '21 Jump Street' starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill

Do you remember the television show 21 Jump Street?  The original “A Nightmare on Elm Street” was Johnny Depp’s first acting gig, but it was on 21 Jump Street where he really got his feet wet.  The show was about a couple of young looking police officers who go undercover at a high school to help prevent youth crime.  It is now the latest old television show to be turned into a theatrical motion picture and the new movie will be about a couple of young looking police officers who go undercover at a high school to help prevent youth crime, specifically, according to the trailer to “21 Jump Street” to get to the bottom of a drug ring.

The new cops in the movie version of “21 Jump Street” are Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill.  Ice Cube plays their police captain.  Check out the trailer b clicking the video in the sidebar.  “21 Jump Street” looks like it could be funny and a good movie.  We’ll have to wait until March, 2012 to find out.

Indie Filmmakers Storm the Beach at American Film Market

The AFM also offers an orientation session for first times. Once you register you'll be invited. 
In addition to the market there are a number of professional seminars at a parallel conference that delve into financing, marketing, the art of the pitch, producing and getting distribution.

The good news from the finance conference was that there is plenty of money available for quality projects like The King's Speech and not just the blockbuster studio pictures. But the key is "you still have to make a good movie at the end of the day," said Jared Underwood, Senior Vice President of Entertainment at Comerica Bank.

Robert Hayward, chief operating officer of Summit Entertainment summed it up, "if it's a really good project, then it gets done."

Take heart all ye hopeful, dreaming toilers in the fields of feature film production. Hearing a no from a studio doesn't mean you're dead in the water. Even George Clooney is told no. But when Warner Bros. took a pass on his latest film, The Ides of March, Clooney refused to give up. Instead of jumping off a bridge or the dock at his home on Lake Como, he sauntered down to the annual American Film Market (AFM) and started to pitch his project to an endless succession of buyers from around the world.

Within a short time he and his writing partner had cobbled together $12.5-million in presales from international distributors which was enough to pay for his film.

Lobby at American Film Market, courtesy AFM

Clooney's is only one of the success stories that keep people coming back to the Loews Santa Monica hotel every year for the AFM. This nine-day event attracts attendees from over 35 countries who have brought over 415 films to screen and numerous other projects in various stages of development to this year's market. They hope to entice some of the 8,000-plus buyers, distributors, exhibitors, financiers, sales agents and DVD companies to take their projects to the next level. The AFM was once the home of B grade movies designed solely for the Asian and South American markets. But today, it's attracting a range of films including "Best Picture" Academy Award winners that come here to test the waters and move their projects forward.

Much of the sales action takes place in the hotel suites that are booked by companies and used for a continuous stream of meetings with buyers. But there's also a lively secondary market in the hotel lobby that's conducive to informal chance encounters and a great place to compare notes with your colleagues.

The organizers suggest that first time attendees map out a strategy for navigating the AFM. The first step is to grab copies of the free trade publications that print special AFM editions. These list the companies that are attending and what films they've brought. You want to create a "list of target companies" that seem to be "best suited for your project."

They recommend that this list be about 30-50 companies and then make an A and B list. Figure out who the right executives are at each of these companies, usually someone who's responsible for acquisitions, development and production. Then using the AFM directory, available at the Loews information desk, contact the company and try to set up a 15-minute meeting with those executives. You'll probably get a meeting during the latter part of the event when things are winding down. You want to make sure you use an executive's name and not just say, you'd like a meeting with someone in development, otherwise you might sound like you're too lazy to do your homework.

Once you have your meetings set up, it's time to refine your pitch. You may want to bring someone with you to do the pitch if you don't feel you're quite up to it. Unless you're George Clooney, it's unlikely you'll get a sale out of this first meeting. What you want is for them to be interested enough in both you and your project to set up a follow up meeting.

Make sure you have business cards, a project synopsis, a budget overview, a list of any investors, ideas about production incentives, any actors or other creatives who have signed on and a script, if you have one. But they caution you not to leave that behind without first discussing this with your lawyers.

Martin Scorsese Talks The Endless Possibilities Of 3D With Paul Thomas Anderson At ‘Hugo’ Q&A

“It was a lot of fun, and yes it was a headache,” he said to Anderson, who giggled as Scorsese struggled to get comfortable in a seat where the diminutive filmmaker’s feet didn’t touch the ground. “But it was a really enjoyable headache. It’s a discovery with each shot – it was a rethinking about how to make pictures, with of course the obvious element of 3D, but also of a boy’s memory of where he was in the past, and a sense of how to create a heightened impression of Paris in 1929 and 1930. It was arduous, but most of the time, a great deal of fun.”

Although producer Graham King first gave John Logan’s adaptation of Brian Selznick’s book to Scorsese to read, the director said there was a decidedly more personal reason to do the film, independent even of the story’s passionate celebration of classic cinema. “I have a young daughter – she’ll be 12 in a couple of weeks – and so I guess it was sort of two trains running in a way,” he said. “Being with her every day, I just began to see things differently and perceive life and the world around one in a child’s view, through the imagination of a child, the creativity of a child, but also a child’s thoughts and storytelling. So it just seemed to be a very happy coincidence that this story, and also the fact that this story resolves itself through the device of motion pictures.”

Scorsese revealed that the first stop as he undertook “Hugo” was contacting production designer Dante Ferretti to develop the look of the film, whose story took place in Paris in 1929 and 1930. Ferretti said Scorsese perhaps predictably showed him a wide variety of films in order to steer him to what he wanted. “You showed me many, many, many movies, period movies, and it was a big help for me,” he said. “You showed me many movies and said, I like this shot, and so I saw probably 20 movies for just two or three things. But it was very important for me because this is the way in which I work always – and he knows very well what he wants, and I think we did, I hope, so far, something good.”

A cinephile himself, Anderson solicited Scorsese and his collaborators to discuss the creative process, particularly in terms of creating and photographing the film’s central location, a Parisian train station. Even after decades of incredibly accomplished work, however, Scorsese said it was still largely a process of discovery, thanks in no small part to the use of 3D, which was a first for him. “I really honestly don’t know how we thought of it,” Scorsese confessed. “I designed the shots I wanted, and Bob [Richardson] and Dante would tell me and sort of work out a time schedule as to what was going to be ready when.”

VFX supervisor Rob Legato indicated he did a lot of work ahead of time, not just in constructing shots, but virtual locations where Scorsese’s creativity could run free, and then be refined. “We would pre-vis a lot, so prior to the sets being built we created sort of a lighter version of what was created for ‘Avatar’,” Legato explained. “You could pan and tilt the camera, you could move a little mini-crane and figure out and start designing shots – to say, this is too wide, that’s too tight, and we started building it, and we would just pre-build with all of Marty’s ideas. And then we’d bring Bob over and Bob would operate the camera or I would operate the camera and then keep on working on it.”

Legato said that his work continued well into postproduction, as they were whittling down the film into final form. “Pretty much as we were finishing shooting, I would be finishing these pre-vises, and the sets were huge, so as we were shooting we had to figure the best way to get out of this. Sometimes we would have to shorten scenes, we would have elaborate chase scenes and they would have to be boiled down to two or three shots, so we’d go off, talk about it, and it kept on sort of like an organic process we’d just do every day as we were fighting a time schedule.”

Scorsese indicated that the use of 3D was initially a laborious process, but the team quickly adapted to the technology. “The use of 3D is exciting, but it demands a respect,” he said. Richardson agreed that even for experienced filmmakers, they were relative novices, and were forced to make different choices technically in order to get through shooting efficiently. “We hadn’t shot 3D so it was obviously a learning process for us shot by shot,” Richardson said. “We were using two rigs with different lenses so we would just switch rigs prior [to shooting].” Scorsese revealed that switching the lenses initially took 45 minutes, but before long the team got that time down to ten or so. Scorsese said, “We even had a rig put on Larry McConkeywith his steadicam. It took him two months to build a rig, to build one of those Segway things, and he rode it on a Segway.”

Thelma Schoonmaker has worked with Scorsese for decades, and she said that the process of editing “Hugo” demanded that she combine past techniques with new technology. “I would cut in the morning just with 2D because my work monitors and my timelines are 2D,” Schoonmaker said. “But then when Marty would come we would always cut in 3D. It was very important for us to do that.”

After Anderson opened up the panel to questions from the audience, the filmmakers received a predictable wealth of compliments on their technical and artistic achievements with the film. After one viewer commented that “Hugo” reminded them what it was like to see a film for the first time, Scorsese talked about how 3D is not just a gimmick, but an important artistic tool which, like so many other advancements in moviemaking, will have to endure many growing pains before it’s fully embraced.

“The first time images started to move, immediately, people wanted color, sound, a big screen, and depth – and that’s just what we’re doing now,” Scorsese said. “Ultimately, it took until 1935 to get Technicolor right, and even then, until 1960 or so, color was only deemed appropriate for musicals, comedies and westerns, no serious, quote-unquote, films. But there was a mindset against color because there were so many attempts at color, from 1895 when they were all hand-tinted. And I think ultimately with the right people behind 3D the way it is now, there are people working in 3D, and other filmmakers who are even more inventive with 3D, for me it’s just another element to tell a story.”

As the Q&A wrapped up, Scorsese said that he thinks a testament to the inevitable success of 3D is the simple fact that in our daily lives, everything we see is already three dimensional. “As I’m sitting here now, I’m seeing you in 3D,” he observed. “Most people have stereo vision, so why belittle that very, very important part of our existence? There’s got to be for all of our technical expertise, a comfortable way of dealing with it. Why not use it?”

As much a film scholar as a filmmaker, there are few directors better-equipped to discuss the convergence of art and technology than Martin Scorsese. But during a recent Q&A about his latest film, the 3D opus “Hugo,” Scorsese offered a few observations about the past, present and future of entertainment that suggested he’s qualified for another title: futurist. “If everything moves along and there’s no major catastrophes, we’re basically headed towards holograms,” Scorsese said during a panel discussion Saturday. “Why can’t you have Hamlet in 3D who comes out to the audience and does ‘To be or not to be?’ I mean, they do in the theater. You have to think that way. Don’t let the economics, and fashion, inhibit you if you’re being creative.”

In something resembling a film lover’s ultimate fantasy, Scorsese appeared at a preview screening of “Hugo” Saturday afternoon at Los Angeles’ downtown L.A. Live entertainment complex, where he joined Visual Effects Supervisor Robert Legato, Cinematographer Robert Richardson, Composer Howard Shore, Production Designer Dante Ferretti, and EditorThelma Schoonmaker for an extensive discussion of the film, moderated by none other than filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. The film itself was in an advanced state of completion, at least in comparison to last month’s preview screening at the New York Film Festival, with only one or two shots still unfinished, and the credits incomplete. But Scorsese indicated that even a passion project like this one is a race to the finish, no matter how seasoned a filmmaker you are.

The online services that let movie fans watch the latest hits in their homes

Jenny Mitchell was enjoying The King’s Speech when another cinema-goer took exception to the noise she was making. ‘Someone shushed me for rustling my popcorn bag,’ she says. ‘It really put me off going to the cinema again.’ 

But now film buffs like Jenny can curl up on the sofa at home to watch new movies, thanks to faster internet speeds and a boom in services offering films for instant download.

But the choices and prices of such services are bewildering. As with music, films can either be downloaded – where they are effectively bought and thereafter owned by the customer – or streamed over the internet. With streaming, the movie can be viewed for only a limited period.

Movies can be bought or rented via cable TV providers Virgin Media and Sky. 

Increasingly though, they can also be accessed via broadband from providers such as LoveFilm, iTunes, Blinkbox or YouTube. 

American online film giant Netflix will join the competition next year after announcing expansion plans last week.

Jenny Mitchell, 25, of Finsbury Park, north London, started streaming movies off the internet via Blinkbox a few months ago.

PLUS Demi Moore Plays Her Mum

Miley Cyrus really is determined to let us know she’s all grown up - and her latest movie role should prove it once and for all!

If it seems the starlet has been quiet of late, it's because she’s been polishing off her new movie ‘LOL’ with veteran actress Demi Moore, and according to hollywoodlife.com, her character gets up to some pretty x-rated behavior! 


In the film Miley plays bad girl Lola who's described as a “teenage Aphrodite, minus the confidence,” and she's reportedly shown on screen kissing her female friend on the lips and accidentaly flashing her mum, played by Demi!

And in other Miley movie news, deadline.com reports that the teen superstar will be sinking her teeth into a very different role! She's just signed on to voice the character of Mavis, the teenage daughter of Dracula in the new animated flick 'Hotel Transylvania'.

The movie is set in a resort for monsters and their families which is compromised when a human discovers it, and boasts a stellar cast including funnymen Adam Sandler andAndy Samberg.

Are you excited to see some new movies from Miley? Let us know by commenting below!

Meanwhile check out more from the teen star in the clip below!

New movies, titles boost sales at comic book stores

Wednesday is a big day for comic book fans in Killeen.

At Book Stan on N. Fort Hood Street, fans fill up the store as the latest issues of their favorite series hit the shelves early in the morning. One of the store's regular customers, Ben Adams, received a large stack of his regular weekly material on a recent Wednesday, a diverse collection of the latest Batman, Green Lantern, Incredible Hulk, Wonder Woman comics and more.

"I'll buy as many as I can," the fan said, showing off his new purchases.

According to ICv2, a website that tracks sales of pop culture products, comic book sales spiked in September, with an 8.4 percent dollar increase compared to the same time last year. The industry, which saw a sharp drop-off in sales as recently as January, is getting a boost from a variety of new sources piquing customer interest.

In recent years, Hollywood studios have turned to the comic book industry for source material for some of the biggest summer blockbusters, such as "Thor," which grossed $372,710,015 worldwide, and "Captain America," which earned $367,566,970. Both films are based on their popular Marvel Comics franchises.

Earl Daigle manages America's Heroes Comics and Games, a store that has been open in Killeen for more than four years. He said interest in recent popular films has helped bring new customers into the shop. The store saw spikes in customer interest on the heels of movies such as "Green Lantern," "Thor," and the latest "X-Men" film.

Daigle said movie fans come into the store asking about the characters, and leave with copies of related comics and merchandise.

Die-hard comic book fans don't seem to mind the attention their screen adaptations generate. Adams said if Hollywood can get more people into local comic book shops to support the industry, it can only be good for readers overall. 

While Hollywood reshapes comic book story lines in a way that often makes them easier for new fans unfamiliar with lengthy hero backstories to digest and follow, the films still seem to hold allure for traditionalists, Adams said. "(Moviegoers) don't have to come in with a lot of knowledge about a particular back-story. ... But (filmmakers) still throw in little things that only the fans would recognize."

Adams said films like "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" even helped reinvigorate his passion for comic books. "They're good movies." 

One of the biggest crossover success stories in the past year is the hit AMC show "The Walking Dead." Based on a popular graphic novel series of the same name, "The Walking Dead" follows the story of a small town police officer who is shot and wakes up days later in a hospital, only to find zombies have taken over.

According to Nielsen ratings, the show's Halloween night episode drew 6.1 million viewers, second only to ESPN's Monday Night Football.

"'Walking Dead' has been phenomenal for us," said Daigle. "We've had people come in and pick up all 14 (parts of the series) at once."

Terry Stanley owns Book Stan, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in Killeen on Tuesday. He said the store averages about 100 customers daily, mostly men ages 18 to 25.

"Right now, 'The Walking Dead' is huge," said Stanley of his best-selling comic. "People are just now finding it on the television shows, and are buying up the graphic novels."

DC Comics relaunch

Another huge bolster to the comic book business has been the relaunch of DC Comics' entire monthly superhero franchise, dubbed "The New 52." In September of this year, DC Comics canceled its entire lineup of titles and started 52 new comic series with No. 1 issues.

"They did that so they can give new readers a chance to have a jumping-on point and start off fresh," said Daigle. "You don't need to know all of the history and you can just come in new."

Since the September relaunch, ICv2 reported DC's sales figures jumped, making it the top comic publisher for the first time in recent years. 

"We started seeing people coming in in droves," said Daigle. "Usually people only buy the No. 1, that's it. But we've had about 70 percent come back to buy more after the (first edition) issues were released."

Jonnathan Molina, a paralegal student at Central Texas College, stops by America's Heroes every Wednesday to grab the latest issues of his favorites in the rebooted DC line.

Molina said he wanted to ensure he could collect all of the first editions of the new relaunch, in case they increase in value in the future. Some of the issues he has purchased have already gone up in price, but the allure of possessing a valuable future collectable isn't all that draws him to the series.

"Even if they never go up in price, it's still a very unique part of publishing history," he said. "To have that first issue is a big deal for me."

ow in its third month, Stanley said The New 52 reboot has been extremely popular at the store, thanks in large part to an influx of new customers revisiting their childhood love of comic books.

"They remember those books and stories from their youth," he said. "And (with the relaunch), they want to pick them up again."

Not just Hollywood

But Stanley and Daigle aren't just relying on Hollywood to maintain business for them. Daigle said a firm grasp of ever-changing customer tastes is essential to staying profitable and popular with fans. If the store fails to capitalize on a popular trend, or overestimates consumer interest in new movie, show or comic book line, the results can be damaging.

"New comics only have a shelf life of a month," said Daigle. "If you have too many left over, you're stuck with them."

Ultimately, said Daigle, supplying a quality, intelligent product is the key to keeping customers coming back, once the glow of a pop culture hit fades.

"Readers have high expectations," he said. "(Comic books) are not written for little kids anymore."