By Iain Blair
Was talking to Jackie Chan the other day about his new movie “The Forbidden Kingdom.” Shot on location in China, it marks the historic first-ever onscreen pairing of martial arts superstars Jackie (RUSH HOUR,) and Jet Li (FEARLESS, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA), and features the awe-inspiring action choreography of Woo-Ping Yuen […]

by James Thompson    
While NAB 2008 total attendance was down, there were a record-breaking number of international attendees. Most of them were not on hand to see Apple or Avid because both companies opted out from exhibiting this year.
Many could have descended on Las Vegas to see actor/producer Tim Robbins, whose keynote address gave him […]

By Iain Blair
Chatting with Tom Bernard, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, who gave me some great insights into the current indie film market. Tom’s “very excited” about their new film from two-time Oscar nominee David Mamet,  “Redbelt,” a ju-jitsu drama. “We’ve done several films with him and we proposed this period piece to him, but […]

By Iain Blair
Was chatting with Gerry Casale, founder of the great ‘80s art band Devo – who can forget “Whip It” and the raunchy/funny video the band did? – which Gerry directed for them as usual. “It only cost $15,000 and we’d never get away with what we did in it today,” he told me. […]

By Iain Blair
Had dinner with Holly Hunter the other night for a piece I’m doing on “Saving Grace,” her acclaimed TNT series. Hadn’t seen her in years but she’s still one of nicest people in the business and amazingly down-to-earth considering all her accomplishments. She’s been nominated for four Academy Awards - for  “Broadcast News,” […]

By Iain Blair
When I talk to DPs they all seem most excited about the new Red One 4K camera – directors too. Clooney and Soderbergh are big fans. One of the first films to be shot on Red One is the –appropriately named – “The Red Canvas,” lensed by hot DP Aaron Platt. He shot […]

By Iain Blair
Just saw a great new film, “The Life Before Her Eyes,” a beautiful, haunting tale told in flashbacks that is not at all what you think it is. It’s directed by Vadim Perelman whose debut 2003 film “House of Sand and Fog” was Oscar-nominated. This is another intense, dreamlike film, with a great […]

By Iain Blair
The last time I saw Francis Ford Coppola, he was telling me how “you save money on a production when you’re able to just put up the dough yourself, which is why my next film will be another small personal one.” He also told me that the script for that film, Tetro, had […]

By Iain Blair
Two more Hollywood legends left us this past week: Charlton Heston and Richard Widmark, never to be replaced. Widmark  — who was 93 — will always be king of the noir thriller thanks to such classics as Kiss of Death, his debut in ’47 which got him an Oscar nod. I met him […]

By Iain Blair
If you love movies you can’t miss this: several famed Hollywood personal memorabilia collections are to be auctioned on April 5 when Heritage Auction Galleries presents the collections of icons & legends Stanley Kramer, Buddy Ebsen and others. One highlight has got to be Stanley Kramer’s stuff. After all, he directed and produced […]