Where Mr. Goldsmith goes to blog, including ramblings on film, screenwriting, directing, editing, various film genres, happenings and scenes and of course podcasting.
If you haven't yet seen it - don't forget to tune into Wainy Days - now in its fourth season of webisodes, it's great stuff.
Of course this is the brainchild of good 'ole David Wain (Role Models) and he really bats it out of the park with each quirky episode. It's Wain's smart writing that really makes the show. Were he to do it with "no-names" I'm sure it would be equally as successful as its already been, yet the fact that he uses stars and popular comedians only elevates it.
Empire Magazine out of the UK is celebrating their 20th Anniversary and they've put together an amazing collage that is interactive and contains images relating to 50 great movies (some honestly are not so great - but whatever)
I love Empire Magazine - and you'll love this game - so check it out.
The darkened areas on the photo are films that I've already "solved" as this is a screen-shot of my game in progress.
REMEMBER TO SOUND OUT the image that you're seeing - literally say it out loud to yourself and you should be able to guess the movie title.
I had to describe the flags into google to get a hint for the ones with flags - but this game is a blast! - JG
This was a funny Saturday Night Live sketch... however I'm not so sure you can write off the original series or its fans so easily just yet...something I of course look forward to examining in the Star Trek Q&A I'll be doing this Tuesday. Look for it in Itunes on May 8th...-JG
This is a very odd commercial that cracked me up. It seems this is a real company, but I'm not 100% sure on it.
Actually I just called and they are a real company - it turns out Rhett and Link made this commercial for them and these comedians have been specializing in cheezy commericals that have become internet sensations - you can visit their site to learn more about them and even watch a news piece on how this commercial has goten Red Furniture calls from around the world...
I used to love doing prank phone calls and really haven't done one in a while - thus why not take a look back at the pros...
If you're reading this and don't know who The Jerky Boys are just look 'em up in Itunes and buy their first album or watch a little on Youtube.
This clip gives you the rare chance to actually see the people on the other end of the phone. To my memory - and I'm usually wrong - this was produced near the time of their feature film debut many years ago - which was at the height of their career.
Their original tapes were copied and distributed by friends of friends onto college campuses across the world - pre-internet - and based on such underground popularity ready to go mainstream with their film - MTV allowed them to wire their own customer service offices and tape these calls.
It's not exactly representative of their work - but rare and still amusing.
What was genius about their calls aside from being quite funny is they developed a cast of characters who each had their own quirks, so that over the course of that one initial underground tape, you truly got a sense of who these imaginary callers were.
Hollywood couldn't resist and sadly, the script completely failed The Jerky Boys and made for a bad film. With all respect to the co-writers - it was a very tough assignment, to take prank phone calls and make a movie out of them which would star the real-life prank callers. Much can be debated about the film, but, it's late and I'm not going to do it now.
SO - if you're looking for a good laugh - of course check out the above video and make sure to listen to a CD or download from Itunes to hear more of what these guys are about. While often risque, they've always kept me laughing... -JG
These ads really cracked me up. As we all know American stars are often offered insane amounts of cash to do foreign spots and here's a whole set of commercials Cage did for Pachinko.
Back in the day, it seemed that these gigs were one-offs that no one would ever see - of course now with that internet thingy...it ain't the case...
Cage's quirkiness translates well to the absurdity of some of the ad concepts shown here which I guess just proves that cult of personality transcends all borders. -JG
A friend of mine sent me this video by Keith Loutit.
I gotta say it's a really cool video that uses a smart blend of stop-motion photography and tilt-shift lens trickery in a perfect combination with the intent of taking an ordinary place and giving it a heightened reality feel.
Here's a hilarious fan parody that shows just how cheezy Watchmen would look if cleaned-up to become kid friendly...
Of course the whole conceit behind Watchmen is adult in nature, so I'm quite glad this never happened, but alas, here's the clip for your viewing pleasure! -JG
This clip has been used for other purposes a few times before - but it still cracks me up whenever someone finds a new use for it.
The subtitles work quite well with the content and man - somebody just needs to tell 'ole Adolph to get over the fact the original squid ending is gone (there were solid reasons) and that he should go see the film and decide for himself...
If you want to know more about why the squid ending was left by the wayside - keep an eye out for the Watchmen cover story I wrote for the March/April 2009 issue of Creative Screenwriting Magazine.
Please note - they do spoil what the new ending is in this clip - so - if you're trying to avoid that information - only watch this after you've enjoyed the film!
Here's another great viral video, this time a 1970s styled Public Service Announcement about the Keene Act, the legislation that forced superheroes to retire as they were deemed dangerous vigilantes.
Again - this clip is nowhere to be found in the film and although it's filled with too much exposition to be chopped straight in - it's really well done and I could see how some of this could end up in a longer director's cut... Enjoy! - JG
I really like this clip. Oddly very little of it is in Watchmen. Actually - most of the footage of Dr. Manhattan (B&W here - which looks cool) is shown in pieces during the film - but this news show isn't in the film and it's kind of cool.
Of course there's way too much exposition for it to be in the film and it's really only intended as a viral video - but it's definitely got some style - so enjoy...-JG
Keep an eye out on newsstands for the Watchmen cover story I wrote for Creative Screenwriting Magazine featuring an interview with screenwriters David Hayter and Alex Tse - but how about a few words from the master himself, Watchmen writer Alan Moore! - JG
Extras was a fantastic show and I totally thought of this clip once I first heard about The Reader - so - now that's she's won an Oscar - it's quite a funny Kate Winslet clip indeed. I wonder if she now regrets doing this skit? Oh - well. She gave a fantastic performance in The Reader - so it's all good... enjoy the clip - JG
Itunes recognized the Creative Screenwriting Magazine podcast and featured it on it's main podcast homepage.
Our numbers were great before - but this shot us up to number 6 out of the top 100 podcasts in the Film and TV section and to number 56 out of the top 100 podcasts in the main podcasting section.
Thanks Itunes!
And thanks to you for listening in as well!
And heya - while we're chatting about Itunes - don't forget to leave us a positive review on Itunes as well!
I became quite busy with Sundance and am now putting the finishing touches on the March/April 2009 issue (and yes I'm writing a Watchmen cover story) - so expect more blogging after those deadlines...
I plan to podcast the Sundance experience as best I can - so - definitely drop me a line and let me know what you think once those episodes go live.
More Oscar writing nominee episodes are on their way into Itunes soon - so keep an eye out. - JG
And man am I psyched to see what tomorrow brings...
Thanks to all who've debated with me these last few months...it's been intriguing to say the least...
Needless to say I was pacing around like a fanatic at a sporting event for the first few hours of results and then started to calm down toward the end... I am quite happy with the final results to say the least. -JG
So - I've grown quite tired of arguing with old friends and acquaintances about politics - especially when so many of them are misinformed.
I really wish people would learn to use sites like www.factcheck.org to learn actual facts and cut through the spin - but of course - it would seem that folks are much happier believing half-truths than the actual truth.
As for the above picture - for anyone reading this outside the United States - it is a clear parody which mixes Obama's "Hope" Campaign poster with Luke Skywalker and the title of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
I find it hilarious but can't decide if the image is from Episode IV or not... I mean - Luke wears dark clothes in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi - so - I kinda wished he was in the white robe from Episode IV - but whatever - you get it.
My friend Claude who is as sick as I am of the politicized-spin encountered in all media this year replied with the following hilarious comment when considering Luke Skywalker as a 2008 presidential candidate:
"Luke Skywalker is an inexperienced elitist Jedi Knight who wants to convert the entire galaxy to the Force, which will raise taxes on middle-class planets and destroy their proud way of life. And he looks French."
Claude's hilarious - and maybe should work in a Republican think-tank but I guess were someone to further politicize the image - they'd have to add this as well:
"This Jedi sympathizer is also a rebel terrorist who has repeatedly fought and plotted against the Empire and commonly associates with other terrorists and enemies of the Empire."
I guess it'd be funnier if it wasn't so sad to see how misleading the Republican party has been ranging from a Plumber they call "average" even though he seemingly out-earns the working class that the Republicans claim to be protecting...
...To the folksy VP candidate who is so down to Earth that she wears the most expensive outfits one can find with the purpose of donating them to charity - a tradition that I guess comes from having the power to "read everything," as she told a reporter when asked what publications she reads.
Wow - I wonder if she's read any of my stuff in Empire, Total Film, Variety, The Los Angeles Times or even Creative Screenwriting?
Alas - here's hoping for an Obama win - and a bunch of votes toward seriously restructuring the Congress as well.
Then maybe laws can be enacted the way they were supposed to have been - which isn't exactly from the throne of the oval office with special "war time powers."
Who knows? With enough votes, maybe the Empire may finally come to the end?
Heck - I'd dance with Ewoks if that happened - and well - I freaking hate Ewoks - 'nuff said. -JG
