It was on 11 January 1974 -- every fan of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure knows -- that Large Marge died in the worst "accident" that many had ever seen. The sound of the crash was evocatively compared to that of "a garbage truck dropped off the Empire State Building." Ten years later, an apparently quinquagenarian truck … Continue reading Mapping Pee-Wee Herman in Los Angeles (and Beyond) on the Anniversary of Large Marge’s Passing (Which Should Probably Be Designated Pee-Wee Herman Day)
Tag: film
Christmas Ghost Stories On Film
I'm not sure how widespread the practice of telling, reading, and watching ghost stories is on Christmas Eve, nor when it began. The custom appears to be almost unknown to most of my fellow Angelenos -- despite, you know, the most famous Christmas story, Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, containing new fewer than four ghosts. … Continue reading Christmas Ghost Stories On Film
Mother’s Day Movies
Mary Cassatt's After the Bath (circa 1901) The American Mother's Day was invented by Anna Jarvis in 1905, when her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Her mother's death proved the inspiration for a holiday and by 1908 others joined her in this macabre celebration.After five years of dedication to her obsession, Mother's Day was … Continue reading Mother’s Day Movies
Fear of a black galaxy — Black people in science-fiction
Photo by JD Hancock The other day I was listening to the podcast The Auteur Cast. In discussing The Empire strikes back, one of the hosts used the character of Lando Calrissian to question why there are so few black people in science-fiction. It’s not a new question. In 1976, on the album Bicentennial Nigger, Richard … Continue reading Fear of a black galaxy — Black people in science-fiction
Happy February — here’s your line-up of month-long observances and ways to celebrate with music, movies and games
IT'S FEBRUARY Gloomy Day 1565 by Pieter Bruegel, the Elder As with all of the months of the year, even short February is packed with its share month-long observances. There are well-known observances, obscure ones and frankly some ridiculous ones whose very existence annoys me. If you live somewhere with a temperate climate in the Northern … Continue reading Happy February — here’s your line-up of month-long observances and ways to celebrate with music, movies and games
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2011
I missed the opening date (Film Radar is my one source for all things cinematic happening in and around LA). Oh well, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival runs from April 28th till May 7th. The festival began in 1983 as the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film & Video Festival back when Asian-American Cinema was … Continue reading Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2011
Pan-Asian Metropolis — Japan Film Festival Los Angeles
The Japan Film Festival Los Angeles gets underway today with screenings in Hollywood, Irvine and Little Tokyo and goes until April 17th. Directors Kinshiro Ogino, Katsuhito Kobayashi, Kenji Kobayashi, Lisa Takeba, Hidetaka Inazuka and producer Shoichi Kawahara are scheduled to appear at various events. Click here to check out the website for scheduling, tickets … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — Japan Film Festival Los Angeles
Show me the Mo Movies!!! – Missouri in Film and Television
Some folk that know me know I have to see dang near err movie that's filmed in, set in or tied to Missouri (whurr I grew up). With the Bourne Trilogy, those ties were somewhat tenuous... Badass Jason Bourne is merely informed that his real name is David Webb and he's from Nixa. No wonder … Continue reading Show me the Mo Movies!!! – Missouri in Film and Television
Celluloid Heroines – Fearless Filmmaking Females
Every female director who's been nominated for an Oscar for direction: Katherine Bigelow, Lina Wertmüller, Jane Campion, and Sofia Coppola On 31 January, The Guardian published an article titled “Why are there so few female filmmakers?” Less than a month later, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the director’s prize at the 62nd Directors' Guild … Continue reading Celluloid Heroines – Fearless Filmmaking Females
Silent night – Christmas movies of the silent era
Happy St. Nicholas Day! For your enjoyment, a little somethin' to break the monotony of all that hardcore Christmas that has gotten to be a little bit out of control... Santa Claus (1898) was directed by George Albert Smith (Weary Willie, Making Sausages), a former portrait photographer and member of the UK's Brighton Set. … Continue reading Silent night – Christmas movies of the silent era
Eric Brightwell 