These go to '11

A revamp for moviequips.ca will be happening in 2011.

The plan was to do all this spiffy new wonderfulness in the background while maintaining the site's weekly updates 'til the big relaunch. yeah. Seems the plan came from an alternate reality where vast quantities of spare time are readily available, easily attainable in wild abundance, all perky and juicy and ripe for plucking. No plucking luck here.

Don't worry, though. I'm not worried. It's just an update. The look and basic layout of the site will remain intact for the most part, with minor tweaks and nudges. The name stays. The ads stay - if the advertisers want to stay. The existing components such as this blog, the Twitter console and the YouTube trailers page simply need to be integrated better.

There are also a few additional assets due to be rolled out in 2011. This includes properly bringing back the movie reviews. New movie reviews. The first 800 are fine where they are: In limbo.

Have a great holiday season and all the best in 2011.

Thanks for checking in.

Silent site, holy @%!#

All I want for Christmas is more time (and a better paycheque). So, updating the site's marquee will happen but not today. oops. Here's the list of premieres for Dec. 17-23. Check out individual theatre sites through the CAPITAL SCREENS listing at moviequips.ca

L'Appât Rated G (Québec), 1 hr 28 min
Black Swan Rated 14A, 1 hr 50 min
Christmas On Mars Rated NR, 1 hr 23 min

The Fighter Rated 14A, 1 hr 54 min
How Do You Know Rated PG, 1 hr 56 min
The Infidel Rated 14A, 1 hr 45 min

Kérity: La maison des contes Rated G (Québec), 1 hr 17 min
The King's Speech Rated PG, 1 hr 51 min (Dec. 22)
Little Fockers Rated PG, 1 hr 38 min (Dec. 22)
Made In Dagenham Rated 14A, 1 hr 53 min
La rafle Rated G (Québec), 1 hr 55 min
Tees Maar Khan Rated NR, 2 hr 10 min (Dec. 22)
Tron: Legacy Rated PG, 2 hr 7 min
True Grit Rated 14A, 1 hr 50 min (Dec. 22)
Yogi Bear Rated G, 1 hr 22 min


SCREEN SHOT: cinemaobsessed.com
Often entertaining, check out this local cinephile blog. "This is a place for movie buffs. A Haven. A Sanctuary. A place of tranquility and unity for the truly cinema obsessed individuals out there."

http://www.cinemaobsessed.com/


IFCO FACTO

Waiting to see what IFCO (ifco.ca) is planning for the new year. Annual gala? A festival? Dogme treats? 'Til then, here's another stage prod year-ender and a couple of film-related year-starters that look interesting:

Seussical at the Ron Maslin Playhouse - Dec 27-29, 2010
"SeussicalTM is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! All is not quiet in the Jungle of Nool, as Horton the Elephant finds himself standing guard over an abandoned egg, while at the same time trying to save the tiny world of the Whos. This one act musical, filled with
your favourite whimsical characters, including Gertrude McFuzz, The Wickersham Brothers, a very sour Kangaroo, and one very mischievous cat, is sure to please the young and young at heart."

http://kanatatheatre.com/2010/seussicle/default.htm


Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (Ottawa) - Jan. 24-25, 2011
"The Banff Mountain Festival World Tour brings Banff to audiences around the globe. Immediately after the Festival ends in November, a selection of the best films go on tour across Canada, the United States, and internationally from Scotland to South Africa to China, Japan, New Zealand, Antarctica, and points in between. Each year, the films travel to 30 countries reaching more than 210,000 people at over 550 screenings."

http://www.banffcentre.ca/mountainfestival/worldtour/listings/regions.aspx?cat=NA&location=ca


Prime Time in Ottawa - Feb. 16-18, 2011
"The CMPA’s Prime Time in Ottawa conference is a national networking event for Canada’s most prominent business leaders, decision-makers and policy experts in the television, film and interactive media production industry. (...) The Canadian Media Production Association (formerly Canadian Film and Television Production Association), represents the interests of screen-based media companies engaged in the production and distribution of English-language television programs, feature films, and new media content in all regions of Canada."

http://www.cftpa.ca/primetime/2011/schedule/


Thanks for checking in.

Stage cues film scores

The Gladstone Theatre: It’s A Wonderful Life the Radio Show Version - Dec. 9 - 18
"By Frank Capra in an adaptation by Tony Palermo (...) Based on the hugely popular 1946 film starring Jimmy Stewart, It’s A Wonderful Life follows the story of frustrated businessman George Bailey, who, on Christmas Eve questions why he is even alive."

http://thegladstone.ca/?page_id=26


NAC Broadway: Legally Blonde - Dec. 28, 2010 - Jan. 2, 2011
"It's here, and it's "AN ELLE OF A SHOW" (TIME Magazine). The hilarious MGM film is now a smash hit musical, and LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL is coming to you."

http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/broadway/event.cfm?ID=6316

OSCAR WILD

"You’re Invited! As we count down the days to the 83rd Academy Awards, we’re looking back at all the Oscar ceremonies that have come before."

http://www.oscars.org/countdown/index.html

TALKIN' TALKIES

The Ottawa Movie & Dinner Discussion Meetup Group
"This is a group for people who love movies and enjoy discussing them over drinks and/or a good meal. We'll meet twice a week (Thursday & Saturday), and we're all about: a variety of great films, fine dining and especially relaxed socializing."

 http://www.meetup.com/movies-573/


From Eventful.com - Bring Mooz-lum to your city!
"Top 10 cities get the film at your local AMC© theatre, plus surprise cast appearances. AMC independent is AMC Theatres renewed commitment to advancing independent film. Through this program, you can see more distinct and unconventional films at our theatres around North America. A diverse line-up of films that excite, encourage and engage." (email and minimal personal info required.)

 http://eventful.com/performers/moozlum-the-movie-/P0-001-000237112-3/competitions


SCREEN WRITERS (some interesting film-related web articles)

Two Nights at the Movies, by Administrator, espritdecorps.ca

 http://www.espritdecorps.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=490:two-nights-at-the-movies&catid=40:afghanistan&Itemid=100


When public funding agencies waste money..., by Julie Laurin, ottawafilm.ca

 http://ottawafilm.ca/?p=238


Free Thinking Film Festival planned for Ottawa, by Paul Lungen, The Canadian Jewish News

 http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20108&Itemid=86


Thanks for checking in.

December screenings (so far)

CAPITAL REEL ROUND UP:

Cinema Dante: Free Screenings - Dec. 7 & 14, 19:15
Glebe Community Centre (175 Third Av.)
http://www.danteottawa.ca/index.htm#calendar

Ottawa Film Society - Série français : 8-9 déc., 19 h
Auditorium, BIBLIOTHÈQUE ET ARCHIVES CANADA (395, rue Wellington)
(members only)
http://www.filmfilmfilm.ca/francaise_10.html

Cineplex: Classic Film Series - Dec. 8 (7 pm) & Dec. 12 (1 pm)
"All tickets for all films are only $5!"
http://www.cineplex.com/Events/ClassicFilmSeries/Home.aspx

Goethe Institute in Ottawa: German Movies - Dec. 10, 7:30pm
Saint Paul University Amphitheatre, 223 Main St.
http://www.goethe.de/ins/ca/ott/ver/en6315326v.htm

Rainbow Cinemas Ottawa: Free screening - Dec. 11 & 18, 11 am
http://www.rainbowcinemas.ca/A/?theatre=Ottawa

Old Ottawa South Community Association: Christmas screenings at the Mayfair Theatre - Dec. 12, 1 and 7 pm
Join OSCA in a celebration of the holiday season with your friends and neighbours on Sunday, December 12th for two great Christmas movies.
http://www.oldottawasouth.ca/index.php/oos-news/1199-christmas-movies-at-the-mayfair

Ottawa Film Society - International Series: Dec. 14-16, 7 pm
EMPIRE RIDEAU CENTRE CINEMA
(members only)
http://www.filmfilmfilm.ca/international_10.html

Diefenbunker - Cold War Cinema: Dec. 21, 7 pm
Cost: Movie: $8.00 (includes free coffee, popcorn & bottled water!).
Reservations required: movie@diefenbunker.ca or (613) 839-0007
http://diefenbunker.ca/pages/whats_happening_at_the_bunker/index.shtml

Thanks for checking in.

On tapping feats

According to its own website, "Canada’s Walk of Fame is the most prestigious recognition of achievement in Canada."

http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com

Okay. Let's take a look at how well Ottawa-born big screen talents are represented:

The first Canadian movie to win Film of the Year from the Canadian Film Awards - eventually renamed the Genie Awards - was the 1948 short The Loon's Necklace (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250512/), produced for the National Film Board by Ottawa's Crawley Films (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawley_Films). 

 http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/film/?id=15159

Crawley Films would win it again in 1952 for Newfoundland Scene, and its Ottawa-born helmer F.R. "Budge" Crawley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0187008/) would win a 1986 Genie Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Canadian Film Industry. Beyond Canada, Crawley Films' 1975 feature The Man Who Skied Down Everest (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073340/) won the Oscar® for Best Feature Length Documentary.

http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1291010870444

An Academy Award, two "Film of the Year" Awards, plus additional recognition from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Impressive. No star for Budge or for Crawley Films, though.

Next...

Ottawa-born Suzanne Cloutier (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0167235/) starred as Desdemona in Orson Welles' 1952 big screen adaptation of The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice, and in actor/director/husband Peter Ustinov's comedy Romanoff and Juliet (1961).

http://www.life.com/image/50510244

She was also featured on the cover of Life magazine (inset cover image found on ebay). Very cool. No star for Suzanne Cloutier, either.

What about Rockliffe Fellowes (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0271503/), featured in the Joan Crawford silent The Taxi Dancer (1927) and The Marx Brothers' Monkey Business (1931)? How about Andrew and George Holland, the Ottawa brothers - mentioned in this blog before - who opened North America's first movie house in New York City? Perhaps Lucie Mitchell (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0593549/)? Born in Ottawa, she starred in what some consider to be one of the important early films made in Québec: Little Aurore's Tragedy (1952).

Nope. No star on Canada's Walk of Fame for Rockliffe. Or for the Holland Brothers. Or for Lucie.

So, has anyone from Ottawa been awarded a star on the shiny sidewalks around Roy Thomson Hall after-all?

Yes.

Any movie stars? 

Yes. And, maybe.

Famed impressionist and TV/movie actor Rich Little (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0514648/) was one of the first Canadian-born celebrities to be awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, back when it began in 1998. Dan Aykroyd (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000101/) was awarded a star in 2002. Alanis Morissette (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001551/) has done some film work but her 2005 star was awarded for her music. Same goes for longtime Las Vegas headliner and sporadic big screen personality Paul Anka (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001912/), inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame that same year.

A few books by 2001 CWF inductee and renowned Ottawa-born author Margaret Atwood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041194/) have been adapted for film. Daniel Lanois (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0487011/) was born in Gatineau (formerly Hull), has produced several movie soundtracks and was awarded his CWF star in 2005.

Nice.

There's now some indication that Lorne Greene (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001296/) was posthumously nominated this year for induction, for his legacy in Canadian broadcasting. Greene actually worked for Crawley Films way back when, incidentally.

Another interesting tidbit is, if awarded a Toronto star, Greene will become only the third Ottawan - after Little and Anka - celebrated by both Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/

CAPITAL REEL ROUND-UP:

Old Ottawa South Community Association: Christmas screenings at the Mayfair Theatre - Dec. 12, 1 and 7 pm
Join OSCA in a celebration of the holiday season with your friends and neighbours on Sunday, December 12th for two great Christmas movies.
http://www.oldottawasouth.ca/index.php/oos-news/1199-christmas-movies-at-the-mayfair


Rainbow Cinemas Ottawa: Free screening - Dec. 11 & 18, 11 am
http://www.rainbowcinemas.ca/A/?theatre=Ottawa


Ottawa Folklore Centre: Ukulele Day at the Mayfair Theatre - Dec. 5, 1  pm
http://www.ottawafolklore.com/2010/11/dec-5th-is-ukulele-day/


Breathless Ottawa: BDSM Movie Screening - Dec. 2, 7 pm
Breathless is a community centre and private club that caters to alternative lifestyles such as BDSM, swinging, GLBTQ, goth, pagan, and many more.
http://www.breathlessottawa.com/events.html


Thanks for checking in.