Building a Ghost City in the Desert for Tom Hanks’ A Hologram for the King
In A Hologram for the King, Tom Hanks' American businessman Alan Clay visits an eerily deserted "city of the future" eager to firm up his appointment with the King of Saudi Arabia. Instead, he learns only that a meeting might happen at some vague point in the future. "It's a very strong image to see Tom in his black suit standing there in the middle of the desert,"
Talking to Documentarian Randall Wright About Hockney
Filmmaker Randall Wright has documented painters Lucian Freud (Lucian Freud: A Painted Life) and David Hockney (2003’s Secret Knowledge) which Wright made for the BBC. But his latest, Hockney, which opens April 22, is a far more in-depth and personal look at the artist, now 77, known for his sun-drenched California pools and domestic scenes. Hockney gave the director access to his personal archive of photographs and films;
Director Karyn Kusama on the Quietly Sinister The Invitation
Despite her early success with Girlfight (and later Aeon Flux and Jennifer’s Body), it’s been nearly eight years since Karyn Kusama has directed a film, preferring instead to work in television, directing episodes of shows as varied as AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire and Hulu’s Casual. Thankfully, the filmmaker has ended her cinematic drought with The Invitation,
Writer/Director Ben Falcone on The Boss, Working With Wife Melissa McCarthy & More
In The Boss Melissa McCarthy stars as Michelle Darnell, a megalomaniacal businesswoman who has to rebuild her life with the help of her long-suffering former assistant (Kristen Bell) after a stint in federal prison. We speak to director, co-writer, co-producer, and McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone, about working with his wife again- he also directed and co-wrote the 2014 McCarthy vehicle Tammy– how they resolve problems and geeking out over Peter Dinklage.
Don Cheadle on Co-Writing, Directing & Starring in Miles Ahead
Don Cheadle co-wrote, directed, and stars in Miles Ahead, an impressionistic riff on the life of iconic musician Miles Davis. Cheadle was determined not to make a traditional, chronological story. “I wanted to make a movie that Miles Davis would want to star in. Much more than something that you could just read in an autobiography or you could read or see in a documentary that made sure to check all the important boxes.
Writer/Director Musa Syeed on his Quiet, Moving A Stray
For Musa Syeed, a sense of place, past and culture are indelible parts of his work. A son of immigrant parents, the filmmaker has never failed to create compelling, quietly interesting narratives whether in documentary or fiction film that are uniquely grounded in the communities in which they are set. Previously, the filmmaker made the international Valley of Saints, (which he spoke to The Credits about in 2013) a complex love story teeming with the culture and lush setting of Kashmir.
Uncovering the Secrets of The Wizard of Oz Doc The Slippers
Few films have captured the American imagination quite like The Wizard of Oz. Despite its age, the film remains a fabulously imagined time capsule representative of the ingenuity and creativity possible in filmmaking. Though much of the film’s output has become unquestionably iconic, it’s the ruby slippers that are arguably the most memorable piece of culture to last the 77 years since the film’s initial release. But the slippers have had a surprisingly troubled past,
Melissa and Winston Rauch’s Golden Script for The Bronze
In Bryan Buckley's The Bronze, co-written by star Melissa Rauch and her husband Winston, a small town girl who was once America's sweetheart has gone to seed in the most American way possible; by milking her minor celebrity for freebies and handouts. Rauch plays Hope Ann Greggory, a former gymnast whose gusty performance on a ruptured Achilles heel at the world’s most prestigious gymnastics tournament earned an unlikely bronze medal for the U.S.
SXSW 2016: A Q&A With the Writer/Director, Production Designer & Producer of American Fable
Many first time directors might find themselves tempted to make their debut entrance into the world of filmmaking with simple, festival-ready fare, but for Anne Hamilton, the writer and director of American Fable, that approach just wouldn’t do.
Standing as easily one of the most visually striking films to play at this year’s SXSW, American Fable is what Hamilton & Co. have labeled as a “fairytale thriller”
SXSW 2016: A Q&A With Long Nights Short Mornings‘ Director & Star
Writer/director Chadd Harbold’s Long Nights Short Mornings stars Shiloh Fernandez (We Are Your Friends, Evil Dead) as James, a young man looking for love (or perhaps just sex) in New York through a series of connected vignettes, each titled with the name of the woman he's courting (I use this term loosely). These vignettes unfold over the course of what feels like one very long,
SXSW 2016: Writer/Director Sophie Goodhart on her Hilarious My Blind Brother
In the opening sequence of My Blind Brother, you meet Robbie (Adam Scott), physically fit save for the dark shades and the sweaty, anguished man he's pulling along via a tether that suggests his titular affliction. That man is his brother Bill (Nick Kroll), who Robbie has just dragged through an entire Marathon. And although he needs Bill, once they cross the finish line Robbie all but forgets Bill exists, thanking the person who was with him "every step of the way,"…God.
SXSW 2016: Director Todd Bieber & Legendary Sketch Comedians Matt Walsh & Matt Besser on Thank You Del
You've probably never heard of Del Close, but you’ve definitely heard of the people he’s taught, inspired, and helped turn into legends—Bill Murray, Amy Poehler, and Chris Farley to name a few. Director Todd Bieber, who has directed for Comedy Central, Vice, IFC, and more, was approached by legendary sketch performers, actors and co-founders of The Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Matt Walsh (Veep, Step Brothers) and Matt Besser (The UCB Show,
Join Jack Huston for a Deadly Chariot Race in 1st Ben-Hur Trailer
Hoo-boy! Director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch), a man who knows his way around an action film, sure looks like he had some fun filming Ben-Hur. Paramount Pictures just released the first trailer for the film, which opens on August 12, and appears to be a visceral remake of the 1959 classic. Ben-Hur is a legendary tale of betrayal and redemption,
SXSW 2016: Writer/Director Joey Klein, Tatiana Maslany & Tom Cullen on The Other Half
Joey Klein’s The Other Half manages to be both a beautifully shot tone poem about grief and loss, and a deftly written drama about two people at loose ends who find in each other a glimmer of hope. The lead performances from Tom Cullen and Tatiana Maslany are outstanding, and writer/director Klein allows them plenty of room to experiment with the varieties of grief, hope and regret that each character struggles with throughout.
Writer/Director Emmanuelle Bercot on Standing Tall
French actress and director Emmanuelle Bercot took the Cannes Film Festival by storm in 2015. She starred in Maiwenn’s Mon roi (My King) which garnered Bercot the festival’s Best Actress prize. Meanwhile, La Tete haute (Standing Tall), which Bercot cowrote and directed, kicked off the prestigious festival, making Bercot the first female director to open Cannes since 1987.
Bercot says that as an actress and a viewer,
Steven Spielberg & Harrison Ford to Reunite for Indiana Jones
Disney just broke the big news—Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford are reuniting for Indiana Jones, with The Force Awakens super producer Kathleen Kennedy on board to produce. This is pretty major news. Here's the full presser:
SPIELBERG AND FORD REUNITE AS INDIANA JONES RETURNS TO THEATERS JULY 19, 2019
Indiana Jones will return to the big screen on July 19, 2019, for a fifth epic adventure in the blockbuster series. Steven Spielberg,
Talking to Eye in the Sky Director Gavin Hood
Entering a conference room in a downtown Washington hotel, South African director Gavin Hood is carrying a book about drones, which are central to his new film, Eye in the Sky. He's clearly fascinated by the technology, as well as the policy questions they raise. Hood mentions his pleasure in visiting D.C., where drone warfare is a matter of widespread professional interest. His previous movies include Rendition,
SXSW 2016: The Duplass Brothers, A Journey that Began in Austin
The Duplass Brothers (Mark and Jay) were back at SXSW on Saturday to discuss their successful careers and provide some words of wisdom to filmmakers who are just starting off. Austin is where is all started for the New Orleans natives; they filmed their first feature film, The Puffy Chair, in Austin.
Their talk had the generous feel of a commencement address—here were two successful alums, grateful and humble, ready to share their hard-earned wisdom.
SXSW 2016: Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson Talk Hillary Clinton, Broad City & More
YAS QUEEN! Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson of Comedy Central’s Broad City brought their special brand of irreverence and humor to SXSW on Saturday. Featured on a panel hosted by Maria Clare’s editor-in-chief, Anne Fulenwider, the friends chatted about their hilarious comedy and so much more.
Starting as a web series, Broad City made its television premiere in January 2014. The third season, which began on February 17, 2016,
SXSW Alumni: Bryan Singer’s Start in Austin
We've already looked at Trey Parker and Matt Stone's SXSW debut, as well as Lena Dunham's. Now we turn our attention to one of the most prolific director's working today. The first edition of SXSW’s film festival hosted the regional premiere of Public Access, the debut feature by Bryan Singer and his screenwriting partner Christopher McQuarrie. Their follow-up, The Usual Suspects,
