AMPLIFY: Eric Stoltz

AMPLIFY: Amy Madigan

AMPLIFY: Caroline Aaron

The Name's Bond.... James Bond

Coming to theatres on November 17, 2006.... the long-awaited Casino Royale (2006). As I explored the Sony website (which for some reason only seems to work for me on Mozilla Firefox rather than Internet explorer), I grew even more excited to watch Daniel Craig as he portrays, what is called a "darker" version of Bond... perhaps more what Ian Fleming envisioned in his books.



This film bears little resemblance to the 1967 spoof version for the most part and goes back to the first Fleming book to tell about Bond's beginnings--how he got his start as a 007 agent. The Sony site contains a trailer, cast list, images of the cast and more. Under the "trailer" link there is also a clever little dossier on Bond that's been sent to M which provides all sorts of fun background, and three separate videoas on the production filming in The Bahamas, Prague, and words from the director and producer.



One thing I didn't realize until I looked at the site was that Eva Green, discovered by Bertolucci in the French film, The Dreamers, will be Vesper. I think that is just wonderful. Though The Dreamers wasn't my favorite movie, I did think she was the highlight.

--Kate

AMPLIFY: Jonathan Winters

"I just made pictures I would've liked to see." ......... Billy Wilder

How perfectly unplanned was my watching of Stalag 17 on the 100th birthday of Billy Wilder. I'd like to say I planned it but the plans were set in motion by Spencer days before after we watched The Great Escape. June 22, 2006 marked 100 years of Billy Wilder and, though he died in 2002, his legend still lives on.

Though Spencer has me beat on every count when it comes to classic film, I will say that Billy Wilder films are ones I typically have seen. My first exposure was Some Like it Hot during my Marilyn Monroe craze in my youth and Sabrina has long been one of my favorites.

Oddly enough, having not seen Double Idemnity (1954) before, just this week I recorded that to watch when I was low on films. Now, I realize TCM was celebrating too, and I simply missed the reason for the film.

I always find it remarkable how some people get their start. Originally Wilder planned to become a lawyer, but became a reporter for a newspaper in Vienna and later as a tabloid writer in Berlin until Hiter came to power and then he emigrated to the US in 1931, speaking no English. Once in Hollywood he shared an apartment with Peter Lorre and through that friendship he was able to break into the film industry. For the next 50 years and beyond Wilder continued to wow us again and again.

Some Wilder quotes:

[To a cameraman on one of his pictures] "Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award."

"No, but it helps if he knows how to read" - (asked if he thought it was important for a director also to know how to write)

"People copy, people steal. Most of the pictures they make nowadays are loaded down with special effects. I couldn't do that. I quit smoking because I couldn't reload my Zippo."



Billy Wilder's Screenwriting Tips
As told to Cameron Crowe:

1. The audience is fickle.

2. Grab 'em by the throat and never let 'em go.

3. Develop a clean line of action for your leading character.

4. Know where you’re going.

5. The more subtle and elegant you are in hiding your plot points, the better you are as a writer.

6. If you have a problem with the third act, the real problem is in the first act.

7. A tip from Lubitsch: Let the audience add up two plus two. They'll love you forever.

8. In doing voice-overs, be careful not to describe what the audience already sees. Add to what they’'e seeing.

9. The event that occurs at the second act curtain triggers the end of the movie.

10. The third act must build, build, build in tempo and action until the last event, and then -- that's it. Don’t hang around.

--Kate

AMPLIFY: Diane Keaton

AMPLIFY: John Leguizamo

Six Degrees or Less Round 23

What is the shortest route from Kevin Costner to Timothy Daly?

just wondering....

My Dear Spencer,

We've been dabbling in movie connections for months now... brain twisters .... mind teasers .... and yes, you have proven your dominance over me again and again and again .... and well, every darn time. If I didn't find your mind so darn sexy I am sure I would not be so eager to come back for more humbling play.

I am wondering if we ought to do some writing again.... I looked back and the last post that wasn't a challenge was in January.... I was thinking we could write about those movies we love or a musican that sparks a little something. I have a long overdue date with Bruce Springsteen to keep and perhaps you'd like to ignite the world with your passion for The Maltese Falcon.... a celebration of its wonder.

It would be fun to explore some of those deeper insights into actors or artists or musicians that we've each been pondering lately.... I look back at that Addams Family blog post and I smile from ear to ear. Unlike you, I tend to forget gems until I am reminded... Just looking back reminded me all over again of the fun wrapped up in that film.

So, this letter, my dear Spence, is an invitation... a call to ponder and possibly to write. Right now, my brain is spinning, sifting through ideas. I feel out of practice and unsure of where to begin. But I thought this letter might be a start.

Love,
Kate

PS Of course, the games should continue... let's not stop that.

AMPLIFY: Virginia Madsen

AMPLIFY: James Fox