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 About The AFI Fest
The AFI is held in Los Angeles at the site of the historic CINERAMA DOME and now the ArcLight Theatres. This year 37 countries are represented at the festival. There are 148 films coverings everything from the current political climate, international events and cultural revolution to well-made and entertaining dramas, comedies and horror films. More than 30 of the films at the festival will also be represented at AFI FEST's market partner AFM. Together, AFI FEST and AFM provide the only concurrent festival/market event in North America. Hollywood2You.TV will update this report as the Festival continues.
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RED CARPET INTERVIEWS
Video Interview Clip - SPINE TINGLER!
SPINE TINGLER! is about Hollywood horror filmmaker, William Castle. Little known to some, but in the 1950's and 60's, William Castle treated delighted moviegoers to buzzing seats, flying skeletons, luminescent ghosts and life insurance policies. His career began as assistant to director Orson Welles, where he did much of the second unit location work for THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI. Driven by a fear of failure and longing for respect from his peers, Castle's life was a rags-to-riches tale of a larger-than-life showman who reinvented himself as a modern P.T. Barnum. William is credited for producing and nearly directing one of the most revered horror films of all times, ROSEMARY’S BABY.
Check out the Video interview clip above with producer, director Jeffery Schwarz about SPINE TINGLER during the Red Carpet at AFI FEST 2007.
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV - John Reed
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Premieres @ the AFI FEST 2007
"THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY"
MIRAMAX FILMS & Pathe Renn Productions
 
Director: Julian Schnable, Producers & Cast
photo credit - MRP IMAGES
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, directed by Julian Schnabel, is emotional masterpiece about a man disabled from stroke that cancels the life he knew, and starts another. The story is based on a true story and best seller. The film places Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of Elle magazine, (played by Mathieu Amalric) in this disastrous situation. With his only remaining movement is the movement of his left eye. The ensuing story shows the power of the human spirit, and how this man goes on accomplishing feats with this limited communication, his imagination and memories. The use of innovative cinematography let's you see through the one remaining eye of the main character, giving you the sense of what he might be seeing.
The Director Julian Schnabel is American, but did this French language film in France, and his previous film was in Spanish. When asked why, Julian said he had do to the French story in French, in France with French actors! "It would have been wrong to hire English actors with fake accents to do the parts". We are at a time in the World and in Cinema that truth is more important than ever. Julian Schnabel was given the Director’s Award at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival for the film. The screenplay was written by Academy Award® winner Ronald Harwood (“The
Pianist”). The story is based on the internationally acclaimed memoir by Jean-Dominique Bauby. The producers are Kathleen Kennedy and Jon Kilik and the executive producers are Pierre Grunstein and Jim Lemley.
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV - John Reed
__________________________________ "LOOK"
 
Director: Adam Rifkin, producers & Cast
photo credit - MRP IMAGES
LOOK, looks at the proliferation of video recording devices in use in America today, and raises the social questions about it. The film is shot through the lenses of various security cameras, and gives us that creepy feeling as we see the characters lives violated. We discussed the subject matter of this film, "Public surveillance", with the director Adam Rifkin, producers, cast & legal reps at an AFI press conference sponsored by the Creative Coalition. When you think about the first amendment, the right to free speech, you may think they have the right, or you may question the use of cameras as an invasion of privacy. Legally speaking, unless there is a relative expectancy of privacy, you CAN be filmed without consequence. We all know that video cameras are in the malls, convenience stores, parking lots etc, but in addition to these we are surrounded by cell phones, and virtually all new cell phones are capable of video, pictures and sound recording. There are over 30 million camera capturing images of average Americans everyday. From traffic stop cameras, conspicuous security cameras, to pin hole hidden cameras, our lives are being recorded and potentially backed up on DATA disk drives. In light of the recent war on terror in our country, it's a know fact that the Patriot Act is in effect, and the Government is examining computer accesses, telephone calls, and security survellance to protect us. The Digital database storage of all these is something that can be kept forever, documenting almost every aspect of our lives, and later accessed, sorted, indexed, etc. If this isn't quite the fruition of the Big Brother book 1984, I think it's getting pretty close. Take a look at LOOK, and see what you think.
The Official site: www.look-themovie.com
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV - John Reed
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AWARD WINNERS @ AFI 
Here's the AFI winner's circle...left to right: Stephen Berkov (Audi), Jenny Lund (MUNYURANGABO), Nash Edgerton (SPIDER), Lauren Greenfield (KIDS + MONEY), Jeffrey Schwarz (SPINE TINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY), Andreas Mol Dalsgaard (AFGHAN MUSCLES), Micheal Addis (HECKLER), Mike Cagle (Audi)GRAND JURY PRIZE - FEATURE: “MUNYURANGABO”
BEST DOCUMENTARY shared by
“AFGHAN MUSCLES” AND “OPERATION FILMMAKER"
GRAND JURY PRIZE - SHORT: “SPIDER”
BEST ANIMATED SHORT: “I MET THE WALRUS”
AUDIENCE AWARDS:
Feature - “THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY”
Documentary - “SPINETINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY”
Short - "KIDS + MONEY”
Audi Truth in Art - “HECKLER” DIRECTOR MICHAEL ADDIS
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 LAURA LINNEY was honored at the AFI FEST 2007 this year and discussed her love of filmmaking and her newest film THE SAVAGES. Laura discussed how "wonderfully human" the story was, and that she has several "levels of acting" that were called on to portray the character in the film, physical, emotional & spiritual. It's always STORY first for Laura, and she says " I try to stay away from my own stuff", meaning not to let the real Laura beliefs or traits influence the character, but rather just BE TRUE to the character in the script. THE SAVAGES is a realistic depiction of a fate that faces us all. Our surviving parents grow older, and eventually need our intervention. Directed by Tamara Jenkins, the film stars Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman as a sister and brother who face the responsibility of caring for their ailing father. The film shows the aguish & sometimes the comedy of the all too real and challenging situation.
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More Great World FILMS @ the AFI FEST 2007
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) Director - Cristian Mangiu 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is a drama that revolves around an illegal abortion that takes place in still communist Romania in the late 1960's. The Tension that surrounds this emotional event unfolds slowly. Their is a very natural relaxed feel throughout the film, even with tension and potential danger of the illegal subject matter . Several scenes are cut longer... lingering in silence. This technique encourages your mind to race through the thoughts and feelings that must be running through the character's minds at that moment. This extra time to think was really very effective. Now days, the seemingly socially accepted act of an abortion, which often just slides through our minds, is given proper weight and reflection. I found that I and other viewers seem to have all had a personal experience or story that comes alive in our minds while watching the film, and this causes you to mentally re-evaluate it. This is the second feature by the director Cristian Mangiu, and a winner of the CANNES 2007 " Palme D'OR Award". The lead actress, Anamarie Marinca emotionally carries the film. The camera shots were handheld, no tripods or steadycams were used in an attempt to capture natural emotions and truth. It worked. In editing, shots that appeared too staged were dropped to the editing floor. Historically during this period, 1966-1970's, over 500,000 woman died in Romania as a result of these unprofessional, illegal abortions that were performed in the country. But as a sad backlash, after the end of the communist rule, over 1 million "legal" abortions were performed the first year. Today in Romania, abortion is used as a form of birth control.
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV - John Reed
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The Duchess of Langeais - 2007
Director - Jacques Riviette
This is a period film anchored in France in the 1820's, is centered on the forbidden love between the still married Duchess & a heroic french General. The sets are actually fantastic locations that give the film it's authentic and realistic appeal. The film's editor uses an editing technique, a throw back to the days of silent films, where in-between scene transitions are just white type on a black background. i.e. "Later that night" or "3 hours later". This is an obviously choppy technique seemed harsh at first, but later I felt was very effective in preparing and driving me into the next sequence of events more than I ever imagined. Great acting by the principle players in this emotional unfolding drama.
Antoinette de Langeais - Jeanne Bailbar Armand me Montriveau - Guillaume Depardiue French with English subtitles. 137 minutes running time.
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV
_________________________________________ I MET THE WALRUS
I MET THE WALRUS
AFI FEST 2007 BEST ANIMATED SHORT award.
I MET THE WALRUS is a Pop 60's Flashback inspired animation that beautifully synchronizes the words of a John Lennon interview to vivid hand drawn, reminiscent of Monty Python-ish images. The interview itself was done by producer Jerry Levitan at the age of 14, in 1969. This brilliant animation traces the thought patterns from Lennon's words and takes you even a bit further. The film is a tribute to John Lennon's intellectual grasp on the concept of Peace, and goes on to show that he was more than a stereo-typical 60's protestor, lying in a bed with YOKO ONO. This award winning piece of ART was directed and animated by JOSH RASKIN, and produced by JERRY LEVITAN. Check out this refreshing, nostalgic look into the Beatles era Rock Star and enjoy the creativity of animation produced by Josh Raskin . You'll be glad you did.
Official site: http://imetthewalrus.com/ HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV
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