Archive for Video

  • ALMT-MM: The Weary Kind wins Best Song at Oscars

    March 8th, 2010

    On ALMT-Music Mondays I write about music.

    Happy International Women’s Day everyone! I am in a joyous mood because we have our first female Best Director in the history of the Academy Awards.  Being a female filmmaker, I am very hopeful that this can open doors for myself and others in my shoes.

    Women have stories to tell; people want to listen.

    Now that I got that out of my system, it being Music Monday let’s talk music.  Everyone will be talking about Sandra Bullock and Kathryn Bigelow, but let’s revisit the Best Song of last night: The Weary Kind, Theme from Crazy Heart.

    I thought it was strange that we didn’t get to hear the songs, what with the 10 film profiles taking their space. I would have loved to hear the competition.  Music buffs out there, what are your thoughts?

    March 8th,2010 Blogging, Music Mondays, Video | Sections: , , , , , , | No Comments

  • ALMT-FS: 1 Second Film and International Women’s Day

    March 7th, 2010

    ALMT-Funday Sundays is a diversion from the rest of the week.

    Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, an international holiday celebrating women’s achievements. It also happened to be the nine year anniversary for the 1 Second Film, a non-profit that celebrates art and the collaborative process.

    I first came across the 1 Second Film in 2005 and I loved its premise: there are 24 frames within one second of animation and each frame of their one second film is a giant painting that was created during an art party at CalArts. Here’s the video of their painting party:

    Another thing that I loved was the ability to donate to the project in return for a producer’s credit. The idea is not a new one, but the way they executed it was very clever, along with the ability to easily outbids celebrities like Christina Ricci, John C. Reilly, Michael Cera, Steve Buscemi, Woody Harrelson, Michel Gondry, Coolio, John Cameron Mitchell, Charlie Kaufman, Pierce Brosnan, Kevin Bacon, Stephen Colbert, Spike Jonze… the list goes on and on.

    One year from tomorrow is their proposed deadline for this one second film, complete with an hour of credits accompanying a making-of-documentary. They intend to have a big red carpet premiere to all contributors.  So, with as little as $1 you can become a part of collaborative history. Or if you like, you can tell them I sent you!

    The 1 Second Film has raised $314,357.45 with a goal of raising one million dollars/members, with all proceed going to the Global Fund For Women. So whether you are a lady or love the ladies (or maybe just your mom), you can help out a great cause by being part of this stellar community.

    And as a big fan of 24, I will leave you with the trailer and this video of generous Keifer Sutherland:

    March 7th,2010 Blogging, Funday Sundays, Video | Sections: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

  • The Lovely Bones review by Tim Hayes on Theatrical Thursdays

    March 4th, 2010

    It’s Thursday, which means it’s…

    Tim Hayes on Theatrical Thursdays

    Mr. Hayes is not only the ALMT publicist and lead editor,
    but also contributes film journalism and reviews to     Critic’s Notebook and Cinemattraction.

    Tim Hayes on Theatrical Thursdays

    The Lovely Bones (2009) dir. Peter Jackson

    Release Date: December 11, 2009 (limited; expands: Dec. 25; wide: Jan. 15)
    Studio: DreamWorks Pictures (Paramount)
    Director: Peter Jackson
    Screenwriter: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
    Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci,Michael Imperioli, Saoirse Ronan
    Genre: Drama
    MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language)

    Official Website: LovelyBones.com


    “The Lovely Bones” tackles deep emotional questions, and then pours on fairy-dust from a CGI paintbox. And then decides to try and be a thriller. Whether that makes it powerful or unbearable might depend on your taste, but it’s not a comfortable mix. Peter Jackson’s ten-year detour into spectacular creature features courtesy of Tolkien and a big gorilla hasn’t rubbed out his darker side, but he doesn’t stop this film clogging up with marshmallow. I don’t think he wants to.


    The story should make anyone wince. Teenager Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) is murdered by a creepy neighbor, and observes her parents, her friends, and her killer from a candy-bar afterlife of shifting landscapes and flocking wildlife. Exactly why she’s stuck there isn’t clear until the end, but it lets Jackson find several inventive ways to meld poor dead Susie into the continuing lives of her parents.


    But those lives never become as vivid as they should. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz do their honorable best, and Wahlberg gets one electric scene opposite Oscar-nominee Stanley Tucci as the killer, but their characters keep doing things that don’t feel right. Weisz is even shunted offscreen for large chunks of the plot, making the mother an incidental figure – a ridiculous move.

    Susie’s afterlife is where the real action is, a place where big chunks of symbolism roll across the landscape while Brian Eno’s music wafts dreamily by. Saoirse Ronan was only thirteen years old when the film was made, but has a gift for making acting look effortless. The film she’s in doesn’t feel effortless at all.


    March 4th,2010 Blogging, Film Reviews by Tim Hayes, Theatrical Thursdays, Video | Sections: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

  • ALMT-WW: Who’s your Hero?

    March 3rd, 2010

    On ALMT-Wordplay Wednesday I like to monkey around.

    This is, quite possibly, one of the coolest things I’ve found on the internet.  Less of a game, more of an interactive movie. It takes a little while to load, but trust me. It’s worth it.

    Who’s your hero?

    March 3rd,2010 Blogging, Video, Wordplay Wednesdays | Sections: , , , | 2 Comments

  • Vote for a friend: Beyond The Still

    February 24th, 2010

    Recently I was surprised to discover that a friend from high school is now a talented director.  He’s in the finals for the Vimeo Beyond The Still project, where each short must be shot on the Canon EOS 7D and starts with the ending still from the previous winning video.

    All five finalists are exceptionally good, but I think you’ll agree that Runner Runner’s is the best.

    Good luck Josh, I’m rooting for you!

    Vote for “Job Security” here. Vote ends Thursday.

    Job Security from Runner Runner on Vimeo.

    February 24th,2010 Blogging, Video | Sections: , , , , , | 1 Comment
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