The Thing Prequel (2011)

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I recently had the pleasure of seeing the prequel to John Carpenter's THE THING (1982), titled...THE THING (2011). I had been waiting some time for this film tentatively keeping track of it's various incarnations over the years until Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. decided to make a prequel to Carpenter's classic. I was interested to see how writers by Eric Heisserer and Ronald D. Moore would tackle the story. When I heard that they would be telling the Norwegian story (for those who have seen the 82' flick know what I'm talking about) I was very very interested.

“It’s a really fascinating way to construct a story because we're doing it by autopsy, by examining very, very closely everything we know about the Norwegian camp and about the events that happened there from photos and video footage that’s recovered, from a visit to the base, the director, producer and I have gone through it countless times marking, you know, there’s a fire axe in the door, we have to account for that…we're having to reverse engineer it, so those details all matter to us ‘cause it all has to make sense.”

— Eric Heisserer describing the process of creating a script that is consistent with the first film.[17]

For me this was a special occasion. As a kid growing up, I was at Hoyts (when it was still Hoyts back then on George Street) when the first THE THING came out, and I remember standing there seeing the poster at the back of the complex. Now in 2011 I was again there to see the prequel, twenty something years later. I was having flashbacks, plus I saw the new film in cinema 4, one of the remaining original cinemas currently in Event Cinemas on George Street. I have to say, it was a blast. Although it didn't have the same creepiness and paranoia as Carpenter's one, its till packed a punch and what put the icing on the cake is how they ended it. won't spoil it but they superbly ended it leading straight into Carpenter's flick. You can easily finish watching the 2011 version and jump straight into the 1982 sequel...how's that for trippy.

Click on the link to see a small clip of me at the screening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOSDj1W_Cy0&feature=channel_video_title

2011 Italian Film Festival Closing Film!

Wednesday 5th was the closing of the 2011 Italian Film Festival at the Norton Street Cinema. The closing film was John Turturro's PASSIONE, a film showcasing the diverse range of Neapolitan music. Man it was a blast, from foklore to modern. The music was mind blowing. This year there was so many different styles of films at the festival, I had the pleasure of seeing some and the stand outs had to be 20 CIGARETTES and PASSIONE. Keep your eyes peeled for these titles as they hit DVD. Click on the pic to see a small clip of the night.

Dead or Alive - The Passion Of Film!

On Thursday 29th September, along with my partner in crime Loretta Peduto, I was fortunate enough to attend a panel discussion on "Italian Cinema Today" part of the 2011 Italian Film Festival. The guests were Paolo Minuto and Aureliano Amadei director of "20 Cigarettes", his first filmbased on his experience in Iraq 2003. WOW! what an inspiration and eye opener. Just to hear his passion on Italian films and the state of the Italian film industry more than just made me smile, it re-affirmed my own passion for film and filmmaking. In 2010-2011 Italian films have been on the rise, just this year alone the percentage (60/40) of national films was greater than the international (American) gems that over populate pretty much all the worlds cinema. That is promising news. But not enough to get the industry back to it's glory days, where Italy would produce as much as 300 films a year back in the 50's and 60's.

Aureliano went on to express his feelings on this matter, getting the industry back to where it should be. He also expressed his "thoughts" on producers and their lack of knowledge of film. Their lack of passion. Which in turn made me reflect on my passion. For me, film is my life, my love, my passion, my world. I don't want to sound nutty but it's the truth. Ever since I can remember film has been part of my life, the driving force. Growing up being glued to the TV and watching shows and movies that enriched and opened my mind to worlds that I can only dream of. I have to thank my parents for this gift, I remember them telling me stories of how they would go see spaghetti westerns when they were dating, how they taught me the different styles of westerns, how they introduced me to international actors like Franco Nero and Alain Delon. It wasn't until the early 80's that Bill Collins Golden Years Of Hollywood would begin my road to the love of films. Bill Collins was essentially my schooling, those Friday and Saturday night double features where he would explain in detail the who's and what's of the film he was presenting. That was also the beginning of my love of film posters. Thanks Bill.

When I came out of seeing E.T The Extra Terrestrial at the State Theatre in 1982, that was the day that I decided that I wanted to make movies and I haven't looked back. Now that I am making films and doing what I grew up admiring and dreaming about, I realise that I, as a filmmaker, have a responsibility. To educate, to pass on what I've learned and loved to the new generation but more so...to use that gift I was given and show my passion for films, in my work, my films. I have had the pleasure of meeting filmmakers, young and old and enjoy talking about films and why we love films. During these meetings I have come across many new guns who want to be filmmakers and to be honest, I have been at times horrified to learn that some of the new gen (Y) haven't even heard of many of the greats that myself and people of my folks generation watched and experienced. Some don't even know why they want to be filmmakers. Shouldn't it be a pre-requisite for all filmmakers to watch a shitload of films and learn from them? Where are we headed? We need to keep the art alive. I love films, I want audiences to feel what I felt when I came out of that theatre when I was 8.

Many times have I spent talking hours on end, with my partner in crime, kindred spirit, someone who share the same passion of films as I do which is a rare thing and I am thankful that I can share that with someone and know that the passion isn't dead. It's needs to be share and I'm not alone.