...also known as Cherevichki, by Tchaikovsky (his only comic opera) is now playing at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The story is based on a folk tale by Nikolai Gogol ...and guess what? It features an everyman character who makes a pact with the devil to win the heart of a witch's daughter. Hmmm (by "hmmm" I refer to my previous post about ideas for development).Interesting that The Tsarina's Slippers should make its debut in the west for the first time in history THIS WEEK (or if i... Read Full Story

Let me start by saying I'm not doing a piece on New Moon because everybody else on the planet is and from a development perspective, once a movie comes out, it's already old news by a couple of years. But it bears mentioning that the sequel to novelist Stephenie Meyers' first book-turned-movie is posting some record breaking numbers and that DOES impact script development and acquisitions. Nikki Finke has the scoop on the numbers. My thoughts are first, New Moon packs a pair of powerful punc... Read Full Story

If you haven't heard by now, Director David Lynch is making a documentary based on the life and work of the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (who passed away in February 2008). The Maharishi taught Trancendental Meditation (aka TM) and was one of the first gurus from India to travel to the west. He was known as The Beatles' guru. There are many videos online but this makes the most sense to me.Here's David Lynch speaking to students at a Maharishi University. The yogi spent his life teaching medita... Read Full Story

I had not actually intended this post but came across this video in my research today and was so amazed by it I wanted to share it. Please exercise a bit of patience as the speaker/inventor in this video, Pranav Mistry, is from India and his accent is a bit hard to hear. However, if you will make that small effort I think you will find this one of the most amazing discoveries of recent times. Hollywood, are you listening? Read Full Story

Sir Richard Branson chats about the imminent unveiling of his first Virgin Galactic ship, which debuts in the Mojave December 7, and possible hotels in space. What a visionary! It also gives some reality to a story idea I have about the colonization of the moon. Great timing what with NASA's recent discovery of water there. I got so excited about this today, I did a little research and landed on the European Space Agency site, which then took me to a YouTube portal which invites the public to... Read Full Story

Roland Emmerich's latest blockbuster 2012 may wow the public with special effects and a cinematic experience you can't get on the small screen but there's another film on the horizon that eschews the exploitative, end-times fear it promotes. That, in itself, may spell doomsday for this thoughtful non-fiction piece but only time will tell. 2012: A Time For Change is a speculative documentary produced by Curious Pictures and directed by Emmy nominated Joao Amorim. According to the website, "th... Read Full Story

Another stop-motion picture, Fantastic Mr.Fox, (based on a children's book by Roald Dahl) opens today in the U.S. Amazing. Just a year ago only Disney/Pixar and Dreamworks (and Fox for The Simpsons Movie & their Ice Age franchise) but this year there are no less than 20 animated features vying for an Oscar. Part of this trend has to do with the phenomenal box office return of the big three but others have obviously (finally) grasped the perennial nature of the medium (recyclable every 7 year... Read Full Story

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There is almost nothing left of the Berlin Wall. AFTER THE FALL, a documentary produced in 2008, is a portrait of Berlin that recounts the story of the creation and disappearance of the most absurd of constructions: the Berlin Wall. A compelling, well-balanced look at a fractured culture finding its way back to wholeness. It's beautifully shot and edited and punctuated by audio and visual dissonance. Some of the metaphors don't quite work but overall the filmmaker successfully gives us a body... Read Full Story

"The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty" will be a six-part mini-series that begins airing on A & E December 13 @9/8 central. Not sure how to feel about this move. But I've always wanted to learn "The Moonwalk". And guess what, here's how...MTV ShowsMy question is, why can't they let This is It be, you know, it? Michael's rehearsal film has already made motion picture history as the highest grossing concert film of all time. Here are the numbers, as of November 9, 2009. It's also the #1 album in Amer... Read Full Story