“Whenever you are engaged in a long piece of writing the fun of it is to create a whole consistent world that somebody could sink into. I think if you do it with enough confidence people could just pop into your world and just splash around.”
– Audrey Niffenegger
The Time Traveler’s Wife is one of the more interesting fiction novels to come out in recent years. It’s about Henry DeTamble, an adventurous librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare’s passionate love affair endures across a sea of time and captures the two lovers in an impossibly romantic trap.
“I like to try to find out what is unique about that band and why that band means something good or bad and nail that rather than design a perfume.”
– Julien Temple
Without ever being in a band Julien Temple has made a career out of music. He first came to attention in the late 1970s when he filmed hours of the Sex Pistols. Much of that footage later went into his 2000 documentary The Filth and The Fury. In the 1980s and ’90s Temple directed dozens of music videos such as Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin,” Van Halen’s “Jump,” Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?,” Accept’s “Balls to the Wall,” and many more. But before that Temple directed The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle, which was about the Sex Pistols breakup told from the point of view of Malcolm McLaren.
“I never got into this business thinking I’d be a movie star. I grew up running around the Connecticut countryside pretending I was Hopalong Cassidys sidekick.”
– Glenn Close
Glenn Close is hands down one of the greatest actors we have. She has proven that time and time again in films like The World According to Garp, The Safety of Objects and Dangerous Liaisons. Her film, Heights, is a Merchant Ivory production that comes on the heels of her great season in FXs The Shield.
Heights follows five characters over 24 hours on a fall day in New York City. Isabel [Elizabeth Banks], a photographer, is having second thoughts about her upcoming marriage to Jonathan [James Marsden], a lawyer. On the same day, Isabel’s mother Diana [Glenn Close] learns that her husband has a new lover, and begins to re-think her life choices and her open marriage. Diana and Isabel’s paths cross with Alec [Jesse Bradford], a young actor, and with Peter [John Light], a journalist.
As the interrelated stories proceed, the connections between the lives of the five characters begin to reveal themselves and their stories unravel so that Isabel, Jonathan, Diana, Alec, and Peter must choose what kind of lives they will lead before the sun comes up on the next day.
“I’m not too into getting killed.”
– Robert Kirkman
The Robert Kirkman-penned comic The Walking Dead first hit the stands in 2003. It was subsequently picked up by AMC, where the TV series based on Kirkman’s story has broken cable viewing records.
The Walking Dead is a real take on what would happen if Romero zombies walked the planet. The plot follows a small group of people including their leader Rick, his wife and son as they desperately try to find a safe haven.
As the TV series goes from strength to strength, so does the comic, which will hit a major milestone next month: It’s 100th issue. The much anticipated July 11th release will feature multiple covers, something that will no doublt please and frustrate collectors in equal measure.
For more info on the 100th Issue, visit the dedicated site at: walkingdead100.com/
“You don’t want to be asking permission. Look how that slows you down.”
– Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez was always an independent self starter. He made his first movie, El Mariachi, for $7000 and kept doing things his own way. He started his own studio facility, Troublemaker Studios, where he’s shot Sin City, Machete, Predators and more. Now he has his own company.
Quick Draw Productions is a step above the production facility Rodriguez already has in Austin, TX. As a production Company, Quick Draw will produce sequels to Machete and Sin City, as well as remakes of Heavy Metal and Fire and Ice. This year Quick Draw partnered with computer giant AMD to use their technology for Quick Draw Animation.
Today’s movie lovers are reaping the benefits of many of Rodriguez’ innovations. He actually made Spy Kids 3-D before the current wave of 3-D films, and the green screen movie (like 300) was largely innovated on Sin City.
He was also a pioneer of shooting digitally. He gave George Clooney his first leading role in From Dusk ‘Til Dawn and he introduced stars like Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Danny Trejo to English speaking audiences.
During a trip to Rodriguez’ home base of Austin, I got to catch up with the busy filmmaker. This was even before he announced Sin City: A Dame to Kill For was starting production. But we had plenty to talk about with his new production company, animation studio, and even his own network. We also talked about the state of independence, since Rodriguez is now a major player in the industry.
“I’d have to stop halfway through when the people were being lowered to the floor. Everyone was all upset about these people passing out. Then I’d finish the story.”
– Chuck Palahniuk
Chuck Palahniuk has been a major focal point of SuicideGirls and members since the beginning. Since his debut novel, Fight Club, was turned into a movie in 1999, Palahniuk has becomes a major literary force. His new book, Haunted, is a series of short stories connected by the idea of a writers retreat. My favorite story is “Guts” about a horny 13 year old, a swimming pools intake valve, and the taste of calamari.
“I did keep the Oompa-Loompa psychiatrist chair which is very appropriate and very comfortable actually.”
– Tim Burton
Tim Burton’s film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is his best work since 1994’s Ed Wood. I would say that casting Johnny Depp as the obsessive compulsive child hating Willy Wonka is an inspired choice, but since this is their fourth collaboration that point appears to be moot. Depp has totally and completely entered himself into Roald Dahls universe and given himself over to this wild and wooly character with chocolate running in his veins.
