Monday, April 28, 2014
Neighbors
The Student Entertainment Board Films
Committee will be showing “Neighbors” on Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the
CUB Auditorium. The Pullman community will watch the film one week prior to the
nation wide release. The Films Committee presumes the CUB Auditorium will fill
to capacity, meaning students, staff, and guests may occupy all the 478 seats
available in the theater.
“Neighbors” is a Universal Pictures comedy,
directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan
O’Brien. In the film, Seth Rogen and Zac Efron star as next-door rivals. Rogen and
his co-star Rose Byrne play the parents of a newborn baby who are forced to
live next to a fraternity house. The young couple struggles when the
hard-partying fraternity led by Efron moves in next-door and starts conflict. Thus,
it appears that the rivalry between the two parties is not the issue. The main
issue seems to be that Rogen and Byrne still want to party, but the young
couple cannot party like they used to due to their circumstances. The comedy
film is scheduled to be release on the big screen May 9, 2014 while the Pullman
community will watch it prior to that date.
The Films Committee started giving
away free tickets for “Neighbors” on April 18, 2014 at the SEB Films Series
showings of “Ride Along.” The Films Committee was also on the CUB Spine from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. last week giving away free tickets and will continue giving them
away this week as well until tickets run out.
In addition, the Films Committee is
strongly recommending students, staff, and guests to arrive early to the
exclusive prescreening of “Neighbors” since there are more tickets available
than seats. Although entry to the film is free with a ticket, a ticket does not
guarantee entry to the film. People who arrive early and have a ticket will be
able to get into the film. Free popcorn will also be provided for those who
arrive early.
A lot of people are thrilled about
“Neighbors” and are really looking forward to watching it this week. Film programmer
Taylor Wright said, “I believe the ‘Neighbors’ prescreening on Thursday will be
a huge success.” Wright explained, “the film will be shown one week prior to
the nationwide release plus the prescreening is free.” She has a feeling that
students will seize this opportunity to take a break from studying for finals
and enjoy a free film in the CUB Auditorium.
Films committee member, Ashish
Suntosh, was on the CUB Spine today from 11 a.m. to noon giving away free
tickets. “Most people accepted the tickets and seemed very excited to watch the
film,” Suntosh said. He also said that those who did not know about the
prescreening of “Neighbors” looked confused; therefore, he felt like they just
took the tickets to be nice. “I think many people will go watch the film
because it is free and it has popular actors,” Suntosh said.
Films committee member, Enrique
Astudillo, is excited to watch the prescreening of “Neighbors.” He enjoys
watching comedy films and admires Rogen’s work. Astudillo thinks Rogen’s
performances in other films are hilarious, so he is really looking forward to
watching his performance in “Neighbors.” “I have never watched a prescreening
for a film, which makes ‘Neighbors’ that much more exciting,” Astudillo said. He
believes the prescreening will be a big success considering that the film
targets those between the ages of 18-27. “Who would not want to watch a comedy film
on the big screen for free? I know I would,” Astudillo said.
The Films Committee and I are hoping to
watch a really funny film in the CUB Auditorium with hundreds of people. I
believe “Neighbors” has the potential to draw a large audience due to its
comical plot and outstanding actors and actresses. Members of the Films
Committee will arrive two hours before the prescreening starts to help set up
and make sure everything runs smoothly. I cannot wait for the hundreds of
laughs to be heard on Thursday; it will be a great evening for students, staff,
and guests.
Sources
Enrique
Astudillo luis.astudillo@email.wsu.edu
Ashish
Suntosh ashish.suntosh@email.wsu.edu
Taylor Wright taylor.wright@email.wsu.edu
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Shell Shock
This
coming summer has many blockbuster titles arriving on the silver
screen. One such blockbuster sees the return of everyone's favorite
pizza-loving, butt-kicking adolescent amphibians. That's right, the
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are coming to theaters this summer in a
Michael Bay directed reboot to the film franchise.
It
has been a little over twenty years since audiences have seen
Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael in a live-action
adaption. Thanks to changes in film technology there won't be any
cheesy rubber suits, this time the turtles will be receiving the CGI
treatment. Real actors in motion capture suits will portray the
turtles actions, but other actors will be voicing the turtles. So
far, only Jackass star
Johnny Knoxville has been confirmed as a voice actor, lending his
voice to the turtle's leader Leonardo. Monk
star Tony Shalhoub has been cast as the voice of the turtle's rat
mentor Splinter.
Megan
Fox has been cast the female lead April O'Neil. This is the first
time since Transformers:
Revenge of the Fallen
that Fox and Bay have worked together after a public falling out.
William Fichtner from Bay's Armageddon
has been cast as the turtles arch-nemesis the Shredder.
The
first teaser trailer for the film dropped on March 27. I caught up
with two of my friends to get their reactions to the trailer.
My
friend Tyson has some skepticism for the film, but a small glimmer of
eager anticipation hides underneath the skeptical exterior. “I
don't really like how they look. It almost makes me miss the old
suits” said Tyson. He likened Michelangelo's appearance to Shrek
when Michelangelo took off his mask at the end of the trailer. Tyson
went on to say, “I'll probably catch it when it comes on TV or
maybe even bootleg it, but I won't pay to go see it.”
My
other friend Matt did not hold back at expressing his displeasure
with the film. “This looks stupid. I swear, summer movies don't
break the format enough and this is no exception”, said Matt. He
was not impressed with the trailer and went on to express his feeling
that the new movie is going to be just like every other summer
blockbuster. Matt said the only way to get him to go see it involved
someone else buying his ticket and the promise of whiskey in his near
future. Matt also said, “At least Michael Bay knows how to cast a
babe, and you don't get any better than Megan Fox”.
With
this mixed to negative reaction to the trailer, audiences will have
to wait until August 8th
to see if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film will be a true summer
blockbuster, or just another failed reboot.
Monday, April 14, 2014
SEB: Films Shift
Learn more about Films Shifts at Washington State University.
Audio Credit: Enrique Astudillo & Ashish Suntosh
Audio Credit: Enrique Astudillo & Ashish Suntosh
Future Cougars! Meet Henry!
Here at Coug Silver Screen we celebrate the past, present, and future Cougs! In good fashion we would like you to meet one of our own future Cougars and his story! Introducing Henry!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
SEB: Films Committee
Learn more about WSU’s Films Committee and its members.
Directed, Produced, and Edited By: Leslie Astudillo
Directed, Produced, and Edited By: Leslie Astudillo
Song Credit:
“Aciiid” by Avelino http://opsound.org/artist/avelino/
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Space Jam 2
Last week's rumor was that a team was being put together to make Space Jam 2, but the rumor turned out to be untrue.
Sources
Enrique
Astudillo luis.astudillo@email.wsu.edu
About Last Night
About Last Night is about how couples handle fears and insecurities in relationships and how to get over them.
WSU Student: Sagal Hussein
WSU Student: Rita Best
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Long Live the King
Gareth Edwards interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKgnRVaaPiY
Bryan Cranston interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XVn2o013ww
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Has Warner Brothers mastered the art of alchemy?
On February 7th Warner Brothers is slated to
release its new spin on movies with its “The Legos Movie”. The first of its
kind to be changed from a toy to a full-fledged Hollywood production, one has
to wonder are we witnessing the future of a brand new marketing strategy?
Warner Brothers coupled with an Australian based animation
company teamed up back in 2009 to bring the first “Brick Imation” movie.
Originally inspired from cult YouTube videos of stop and go animation, “The
Lego Movie” features an all-star cast and a blank check for movie production.
Actors include Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Morgan freeman, Liam Neeson, and
many more.
With such a power house squad of voices and a blank check for
production where will the world of animated films go next? Lego, which at the
moment is a private held company from the Netherlands, stands as the first
company to really use movies to their advantage. Product placement is far but
rare on the silver screen. However to use ones brand as a focal point seems to
make possibilities endless.
When thinking back on movies which try to capture the essence
of toys or comics many come to mind. The world changing “Pokemon” series sprung
a craze which any millennial to this day is more than familiar with. However
this idea that a tangible product which allows children to relive every second
of their favorite movie seems like the Holy Grail of young cinema attractions.
As a passionate movie goer nothing interests me more than the
ever changing movie paradigms of the silver screen. As the movie has not been
released I personally cannot give the review, however Scott Mendelson a
contributor for Forbes had this to say about the film. “The film goes in some
wonderfully unexpected directions and takes real storytelling risks. I cannot
say how everyone will respond to its narrative left turns and unexpected
poignancy, but they elevate to the film far above a glorified toy commercial.
The Lego Movie may in fact be brilliant”.
Between Legos record breaking Christmas sales and a full
blown Hollywood hit, its hard to believe that other major toy company’s don’t “pick
up the blocks” to build their own movie/toy empires.
Works Cited- "'Lego: The Piece of Resistance' Moves up to February 7, 2014 | Collider | Page 205471". Collider. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- "The Lego Movie (U)". Warner Bros. British Board of Film Classification. January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- "'Lego Movie' Can Save Warner Bros. Animation". Forbes. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
- ^ Horrorella (October 31, 2013). "New Trailer Has Arrived for 'The Lego Movie'!". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ThE_JacO (November 1, 2013). "'The Lego Movie' Official Main Trailer". CG Society. Retrieved November 1, 2013. "Nope, that comment is a misquote of what Chris and Phil said. They said there is a live action part, not a stop motion one. The journalist assumed photographic stop motion. Every single pixel of that trailer is CG."
Fast and Furious 7
The action film series based on illegal
street racing and heists is back. “Fast and Furious 7” is scheduled to appear
on the big screen April 10, 2015. The popular franchise will continue its
seventh installment despite Paul Walker’s death. It appears that Director James
Wan and screenwriter Chris Morgan found a way to respectfully dismiss Walker’s
character from the “Fast” franchise using scenes already shot.
Walker was killed in a car crash November
30, 2013 in Santa Clarita, California. The vehicle he was riding in crashed into
a tree and a light pole, causing the vehicle to burst into flames. The driver
of the vehicle, Walker’s friend and financial adviser, also passed away. Prior
to the car accident, the two men had just left a car show for Walker’s charity
foundation called Reach Out Worldwide. The event was designed to assist and support
victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
The news of Walker’s death escalated
quickly via different social media. Fans of the franchise began to question the
seventh and future installments. Several days after the tragedy, Universal Studios
stopped production to decide the fate of the “Fast” franchise. According to The
Hollywood Reporter (THR), almost half of Walker’s footage was done when he died
and $150 million was spent on production. Starting a new script was an option,
but executives chose to retrieve footage already shot. The Epoch Times also discussed
the possibility of Walker’s younger brother Cody Walker taking over his role in
the seventh installment.
Walker played Brian O’Conner, an
undercover cop who later joins forces with a ring of car thieves. According to
THR, O’Conner will appear in the seventh installment, which means some elements
of the script will change in order to accommodate him in the story. Eventually,
Universal Studios will take O’Conner out of the story without killing his
character off or removing him completely. It is still unclear how this will be
done, but a release date has been set and that could only mean one thing – Wan
and Morgan have already decided the fate of the “Fast” franchise.
My brother Enrique Astudillo has been a “Fast
and Furious” fan from the start. He is thrilled about the seventh installment.
“I want to know what happens with the rest of the story. The sixth movie left
me wanting more,” he said. Although Walker’s character will be removed from the
story, Astudillo remains positive. “I believe the film will focus less on Paul
Walker’s death. The director and screenwriter will find a way to create an
action-packed film rather than a sad film plot,” he said.
I asked my roommate Ashish Suntosh about
his view on the “Fast and Furious” franchise and he was not as positive as
Astudillo. “Universal Studios should start over and change Paul Walker’s
character to another actor or just not make the movie at all,” he said. Suntosh
does not like the idea that Walker will still appear in the seventh installment
even after his death. “I think people who watch the film will be disappointed
in so many ways because one of the main characters will either be replaced or
killed in the story,” he said. However, Suntosh is unaware that killing
Walker’s character is not an option.
“Fast
and Furious” fans will have to wait a little over a year to see how the seventh
installment goes. I am so glad the film is set to debut later rather than
sooner.
Sources
Enrique
Astudillo luis.astudillo@email.wsu.edu
Ashish Suntosh ashish.suntosh@email.wsu.edu
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