Here is a follow-up to the Women Pioneers of the Cinema: Patty Jenkins and the Wonder Women post from a few days ago (see below). For Mekado Murphy’s New York Times “Anatomy of a Scene” series, Patty Jenkins narrates a key scene from Wonder Woman, along with a nice tip of the hat to a strong inspiration for her — Richard Donner’s Superman from 1978.
Posted in Chapter 5, Women Mediamakers | Tagged Mekado Murphy, New York Times, Patty Jenkins, Richard Donner, Superman, Wonder Woman | Leave a Comment »
In Chapter 3 of Moving Images and a number of mediateacher.net posts (for example, check out Part 2 from this series or the Kevin Goff interview), we have discussed cutting edge moving image creation designed to produce advertising, public service messages, issue-driven content, and a wide array of visual storytelling. Here is a very interesting current resource: the TBrandStudio Selects for 2017 from the world of animation. The chosen mediamakers are: Nice and Serious, Block & Tackle, Bhakti Patel, Mighty Oak, and Pete Levin.
Posted in Animation, Chapter 3, Women Mediamakers | Tagged Bhakti Patel, Block & Tackle, Mighty Oak, Nice and Serious, Pete Levin, TBrandStudios, The Selects | Leave a Comment »
Director Patty Jenkins
As earlier periods of motion picture history could be described as the heyday of the Western or the Musical, we are clearly living in the age of the Superhero. It seems like each summer brings the need for new articles on the evolution of the form — from Heroes for America! (And now the world.) or “A Stink Bucket of Disappointment” or just some criminally wacky fun? (which was certainly far more the former than the latter) — and the current moment certainly calls for a nod in the direction of the upcoming release of the feature length film Wonder Woman.
Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot shooting Wonder Woman
Now, finally, a contemporary major studio release that features a female superhero — and not only that, but the most popular super-heroine in comic book history, a character created by William Moulton Marston as a testament to the power, independence, and strength of character of the women in its creator’s life. For a story at least as interesting and jaw-dropping as anything that screenwriters can whip up, Jill Lepore’s The Secret History of Wonder Woman delves into the incredible stories of Olive Byrne and her mother Ethel Byrne (and aunt Margaret Sanger), of Marston and his wife Elizabeth Holloway and their unconventional family, and of the genesis and early years of Wonder Woman.
For this movie, another milestone is being reached: it is directed by a woman, Patty Jenkins. The only previous feature film directed by Jenkins is the feature Monster, (which she also wrote), starring Charlize Theron in an Academy Award-winning performance as Aileen Wuornos, the infamous serial killer who died by lethal injection in 2002. Since then, Jenkins has been directing television shows, particular for the pilot of The Killing (another production featuring a strong female protagonist), Entourage, and Betrayal. Now, Jenkins has directed the highly anticipated feature Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, written by Allan Heinberg. Here is a video interview with Jenkins about the movie, and here is an interview from FilmInk.
Posted in Chapter 5, Women Mediamakers | Tagged Charlize Theron, Gal Gadot, Jill Lepore, Monster, Patty Jenkins, William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman | Leave a Comment »
Hahaha, as if Jonathan Demme were ever to make a “Part 2” movie! This video should be very moving for American movie lovers, and cinephiles from around the world.
Posted in Directors | Tagged Jonathan Demme | Leave a Comment »
In the currents and eddies of media making, popular culture, and idea flow, it can be hard to predict when and how messages become fresh or cool or accessible. And among fortuitous, of-the-moment occasions, the return of Bill Nye could not seem more apt. So here is a cross-curricular message for our friends from the world of Science: Bill Nye Saves the World is streaming on Netflix. Not only that, but a documentary about the man and his career has been produced, Bill Nye: Science Guy, which premiered at SXSW.
Posted in Chapter 6 | Tagged Bill Nye Saves the World, Bill Nye: Science Guy | Leave a Comment »
Today marked the passing of a director whose career was undoubtedly one of the most interesting and unique of the past several decades: Jonathan Demme. This fine obituary by Bruce Weber for the New York Times provides a strong overview of Demme’s career; for Demme’s impact on collaborators and friends, this article from Variety provides many moving testimonials, in addition to these words from director and actress Jodie Foster. From among his works, my favorite will remain Something Wild, undoubtedly one of the most original works of its decade (with a killer soundtrack and as-always-stellar work from sound designer Skip Lievsay) and a movie that would certainly stand alongside Melvin and Howard in demonstrating Demme’s strengths as a chronicler of American society, a great director of actors, and a man with a musical soul. It should also be noted that while he is justifiably celebrated for directing the Talking Heads concert movie Stop Making Sense, his beautiful video for New Order’s The Perfect Kiss is also an absolute treasure.
Posted in Chapter 5 | Tagged Jodie Foster, Jonathan Demme, Melvin and Howard, New Order, Skip Lievsay, Something Wild, Stop Making Sense, The Perfect Kiss | Leave a Comment »
Decades ago, Princeton professor P. Adams Sitney first integrated these lessons into his work on cinematic history and its hidden lessons, along with adventures in the Avant-Garde. Check out the embedded video above and your eyes (and mind) may be opened a bit more.
Speaking of dispelling illusions, here is a related recommendation — Race: The Power of an Illusion is an exceptional documentary referenced in Moving Images and which explores the complex story of what we call “race” in America. You can learn more about it here.
Posted in Chapter 4, Chapter 6 | Tagged Avant-Garde, Cinematography, Color, Color Film and Racism, P. Adams Sitney, Race: The Power of an Illusion | Leave a Comment »
