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65 Worthwhile Facts About James Bond

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The history of James Bond movies is a fascinating topic for any conversation. This article reveals many amazing facts about James Bond, 007, for any fan of the genre.

“No Time to Die” is Daniel Craig’s fourth 007 movie.

When James Bond 25 premiered in theaters, the franchise set the record for the most movies ever produced by a single franchise.

James Bond Years

As we wait to discover who will star as James Bond in the next 007 movies, let’s look at some facts about James Bond.

With MGM’s permission, you will read, view photos, and watch video clips about the historical facts of the author, Ian Fleming, and the producers, directors, writers, and actors behind the creation of the ever-suave James Bond.

1. Longest-Produced Franchise

James Bond ranks among the most productive and longest-running franchises, with 24 films produced and the 25th, No Time to Die, set for release.

2. When Was Ian Fleming Born?

Ian Lancaster Fleming was born on May 28, 1908, and passed away on August 12, 1964. He left behind a genuine legacy of what it means to be a confident man—stylish, charming, suave, and debonair — as 007.

3. Fleming Worked in British Intelligence

Fleming’s life story is intriguing and full of flair, just like his fictional character. In 1942 in Jamaica, Fleming arrived to meet his American opposite from the Office of Naval Intelligence, where he stayed with fellow Eton College and childhood friend, Ivar Bryce.

Bryce’s second wife owned a house in Jamaica, and Fleming was impressed with the location. After visiting the island, Fleming assured Bryce that he would come back, construct a home, and live on the island when the war was over.

4. Fleming Designed and Built His Home in Jamaica

He returned to the island in 1946 and purchased an abandoned donkey racetrack overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean, near Ocho Rios and Oracabessa Bay.

He constructed his villa near the edge of a cliff with a view of his private beach. He named his villa “Goldeneye” and conceived and drew the plans himself, with the intent of being economical with space. He commented, “Who wants a big bedroom?” This economy of space encompassed his kitchen area, too.

He went without glass windows and favored the tropical breezes that drifted through the house. He designed conventional slatted louvers that folded back into the window frame’s border.

Author Ian Fleming on location in Jamaica with Sean Connery as James Bond while filming “Dr. No.”

5. How Did Fleming Come up with “Goldeneye”?

“Goldeneye” came from one of the campaigns Fleming worked on during World War II, and he, by coincidence, was reading Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson McCullers. The first stages of Goldeneye, home in Jamaica, seemed barren and gloomy, but with lots of promise.

6. Playwright and Actor Noel Coward Was Goldeneye’s First Tenant

In 1948, playwright, director, and actor Noel Coward, Fleming’s friend, came to visit and subsequently became his first occupant at Goldeneye, paying a mere £50 a week.

7. Goldeneye Has a Private Beach

He positioned the main house near where he hiked down to the private beach to fish and swim. He hollowed out a large area at the top of the cliff, designed a sunken garden, and added a table and chairs under a sunshade. He finalized the beach area by building concrete and rock stairs to access the beach.

8. Violet Cummings Was His Housekeeper

Fleming hired Violet Cummings, who was a local from the north shore of Jamaica. She became his devoted housekeeper at Goldeneye for 17 years.

9. Fleming Married Lady Ann Rothermere

His wife, Lady Ann Rothermere, first visited Goldeneye in 1948. Fleming and Ann married about 18 miles from the villa in a small town called Port Maria in March 1952. Their only son, Caspar, arrived in London in August 1952, five months later.

10. “Casino Royale” Was the First James Bond Book

Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, was written at Goldeneye in 1952 and published in 1953. He penned every successive Bond book at Goldeneye.

In Jamaica, while filming of “Dr. No” in 1962, Sean Connery, Jacqueline, and Harry Saltzman, and Cubby and Dana Broccoli.

11. Origin of James Bond Name

Fleming chose the hero’s name from the author of his ‘Jamaican bible,’ A Field Guide to the Birds of the West Indies, by James Bond, an American ornithologist.

12. How Many Novels and Stories Fleming Write About James Bond, 007?

Fleming wrote 12 novels and two collections of short stories in Jamaica. All 14 stories were about James Bond.

13. Fleming Wrote on a Gold-Plated Typewriter

He rewarded himself for completing Casino Royale by purchasing a custom-made typewriter he had shipped from New York via the Royal Typewriter Company.

The typewriter was a distinctive gold-plated version of its Quiet de Luxe model, costing $174. Casino Royale is by far his best James Bond book. If you plan to read a James Bond book, read Royale because Bond is vulnerable and genuinely falls in love.

14. Fleming’s Writing Routine Described in Playboy Magazine

His writing habits sounded manageable, as he described them in the 1964 Playboy article. His routine consisted of writing an average of 2000 words a day.

The majority of his writing occurred at 10 a.m. after he swam in the ocean, had breakfast, and had leisure time in the garden.

He wrote without stopping or looking over what he wrote. If he made a mistake, he would fix it when the book finished.

He spent the afternoon lounging with his wife, had a few drinks, took a nap, and ate dinner. When the sun went down, it was dark. He pounded out 500 more words, placing his seven pages neatly in a folder.

15. Second James Bond Novel Arrived in the Bookstores in 1954

Fleming’s second novel, Live and Let Die, arrived in bookstores on 5 April 1954. The story takes place in exotic locations in Jamaica, similar to the sixth novel he wrote and published in 1957, Dr. No.

16. Famous People Visited Goldeneye

Goldeneye honored famous visitors, including Noel Coward, Anthony Eden, Cecil Beaton, Truman Capote, Errol Flynn, Evelyn Waugh, and Lucian Freud.

17. Former Film Locations Manager owns Goldeneye

The villa changed ownership a couple of times and is currently owned and managed by Island Outpost, owned by Chris Blackwell, former movie locations manager and owner of Records. People come to Goldeneye for and vacation, promoted as a secluded location with ample privacy.

18. Who Produced the First James Bond Movie?

The first movie of the 007 films is Dr. No, produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R Broccoli, based on Fleming’s sixth novel, starring Sean Connery.

Strolling on the Jamaican beach, Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman are deep in conversation about producing.

19. Who Directed “Dr. No?”

Terence Young directed Dr. No and From Russia With Love, the first two James Bond movies. The last Bond movie he directed was Thunderball.

Terence Young positioned under the camera, directing Sean Connery, Kitzmiller, Ursula Andress on location in Jamaica.

20. Jamaica Movie Location

Because Fleming’s second two novels were set in Jamaica, when the movies went into production, they shot both at various locations there.

21. How Many Jamaicans Worked on “Dr. No?”

The first Bond movie hired roughly 500 local Jamaican actors and crew. The Jamaican government supported the production from beginning to end.

Marguerite LeWars plays the photographer and fails to catch Bond on film.

22. “Dr. No” Went into Production

Dr. No went into production, and filming began on the topic island under a $1 million production budget. Reggie Carter, one of Jamaica’s leading theatre actors, played the maleficent chauffeur, and Miss Jamaica 1961 Marguerite LeWars played the Freelance Photographer.

23. Blackwell Represented Bob Marley

Fleming’s neighbor and friend, Chris Blackwell, became the location manager for all the Jamaican locations filmed for the movie. From his earnings, Blackwell founded Island Records. The record label that released reggae artists, including Bob Marley.

Chris Blackwell, as the location manager for “Dr. No,” listens to Terence Young.

24. Noel Coward Offered the Role of Dr. No

Producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman wanted Noel Coward to play Dr. No, but when Fleming cabled his Jamaican neighbor with the offer, Coward responded, “…No…No…No! Thank you. Love, Noel.”

25. Ursula Andress White Bikini Scene

The costume designer for Dr. No was Tessa Prendergast, a Jamaican actress; Tessa Welborn was the fashion designer. She oversaw the costume designs for Dr. No. She assisted in creating the famous white bikini worn by Ursula Andress when she surfaced from the ocean. She won a Golden Globe for her role.

Ursula Andress is the most famous Bond girl in her white bikini for “Dr. No.”

26. Sean Connery Resided at Courleigh Manor Hotel

Sean Connery, stunt coordinator Bob Simmons, and Terence Young arrived on the island a week before the first day of filming. They booked rooms at the Courtleigh Manor Hotel. The remainder of the cast and crew arrived on 14 January.

27. Monty Norman Used Local Bands as Part of the Movie’s Music

The movie’s composer, Monty Norman, blended the Jamaican vibe into the score by working with Chris Blackwell, the location manager. He presented Norman with some local flavor, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. The band appears in Pussfella’s bar scene. They play “Jump Up” to a bar full of island extras as Connery, who plays Bond, John Kitzmiller, who plays Quarrel, and Jack Lord, who plays Leiter, meet to discuss the disappearance of Strangways.

28. Norman’s Wife Sings “Under the Mango Tree”

The band included Jamaican jazz guitarist Ernest Ranglin, who backed Norman’s wife, Diana Coupland, singing ‘Under the Mango Tree’ in Dr. No.

29. Bunny Yeager Photographed Andress

Bunny Yeager, a former pin-up model and American glamour photographer, came on location to shoot promotional photos of Ursula Andress. In 1966, Yeager published Camera in Jamaica, which includes several photos taken on-site during the filming of Dr. No.

Honey Ryder and 007 are looking down at the beach in Jamaica.

30. The First Time Ian Fleming Came on a Bond Set

During the shooting of the famous Andress, as Honey Ryder walks out of the ocean in a white bikini on the island, director Terence Young recalled working on the scene. He saw some folks walking down the beach, ruining the shot. He screamed, “Lie down!” They lay down, and the film crew shot the iconic scene. It turned out to be Ian Fleming with his friends, Stephen Spender, Noel Coward, and Peter Cornell. It went down as the first time Fleming came on a Bond set.

31. “Dr. No” Final Location Shot in Jamaica

February 21, 1962, the final day of filming on location in Jamaica, was on the property of the Sans Souci Hotel, where the exterior shots of Miss Taro’s house were filmed.

Quarrel, Bond, and Honey are getting away from Dr. No’s guards.

32. Who directed “Live and Let Die?”

Live and Let Die was Guy Hamilton’s third Bond movie. He directed Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever before he took on Live and Let Die. His final Bond movie was The Man with the Golden Gun.

33. Did Sean Connery Star in “Live and Let Die”

Roger Moore played James Bond in Live and Let Die. It was his first Bond movie.

34. San Monique Became the Fictional Name of the Island of Jamaica

On November 14, 1972, the first day of filming on Live and Let Die was registered on location in Jamaica. The filming took place on the coast, a short distance past Reynolds Aluminium, on the road to Ocho Rios towards St. Anne’s Bay. The following locations for that day were the interior and exterior shots of the Hotel Reception and the Tarot Card Shop, using the Sans Souci Hotel in Ocho Rios.

On a crocodile farm, Bond, now played by Roger Moore, discovers that signs sometimes express what they say!

35. “Trespassers Will Be Eaten”

Syd Cain scouted locations on the island and came across “Trespassers Will Be Eaten.” His interest aroused, he took a tour of Kananga’s Swamp Safari with its owner. The location became part of the movie, with scenes added to the script, and the name was changed to “Jakata.”

36. Stunt Double in Crocodile Scene

The owner of the swamp, Ross Kananga, joined the movie crew as Bond’s body double for the crocodile stepping stone scene. He had to run over the backs of real crocodiles lined up for the shot.

On the third try, a crocodile whipped around and bit off the heel of his shoe. Ross concluded, “They’re expecting me.”

Guy Hamilton told Ross it was too dangerous to continue, but Ross wanted to get the shot. They tried again and got it.

“Live and Let Die” on the film set, Roger Moore seated on the top deck, on Sunday, December 10, 1972.

37. The Double-Decker Bus Chase Scene

The double-decker bus chase scene required a bus to be converted so the stunt could proceed without difficulty. The production built the bus in London and shipped it to a location in Johnson Town, Lucea, on the island.

Bond drove the bus beneath a low-lying bridge, using a sliding mechanism to enable the top deck to get a clean slice off when the bus hits the bridge.

Not only was the bus customized, but the bridge was as well. Syd Cain devised it, and Leon Davis oversaw the installation of the complete steel framework. All went well in the first take, and the effects looked both humorous and magnificent.

38. The Bus Driver Rehearsed for Six Weeks

Maurice Patchett, a bus instructor, drove the double-decker bus in the chase sequence practiced in Jamaica for six weeks before shooting the stunt.

39. “Live and Let Die” Last Day in Jamaica

The last day of filming in Jamaica was December 27, 1972, at the Jamaica Swamp Safari, Falmouth, with Ross Kananga.

40. Which Studio Produced the James Bond Movies?

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or United Artists, its forerunner, produced all of the James Bond films in collaboration.

43. San Monique in “Live and Let Die” is Fictional

Jamaica as Live and Let Die filming location for the fictional San Monique island was not a shoo-in. Director Hamilton, Art Director Syd Cain, and Production Manager Claude Hudson spent three weeks scouting locations across the Caribbean before settling on Fleming’s homestead island.

44. Bond’s First Interacial Romance

On November 15, 1972, Roger Moore and Rosie Carver, as Gloria Hendry, perform their first romantic kiss at the picnic scene in a clearing located at Ruins, Ocho Rios. The scene marks the first interracial affair in a Bond movie.

45. Dereking Meddings Created Scarecrow Mannequins

Derek Meddings was recognized for his miniature work on Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, and Stingray. Live And Let Die was his first attempt at a Bond movie. Meddings and Peter Briggs designed the scarecrow mannequins that frighten Rosie in the romantic scene with Bond.

46. Jaws

Richard Kiel played Jaws and wore his metal teeth for only 30 seconds per scene. The pyramid scene in The Spy Who Loved Me, where he bites through the chain, was designed out of licorice.

47. How Many Actors Have Played James Bond?

Which 007 is your favorite? Seven handsome actors played James Bond, including David Niven, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, and Daniel Craig.

48. How Tall is James Bond?

Daniel Craig is the shortest James Bond to date, standing at 5’10”. The other Bonds reached 6’1″ to 6’2″.

49. James Bond Women

Bond has been intimate with over four dozen women on screen, with over 75 Bond Girls, and two-thirds of those lovers attempted to kill him. Ursula Andress was the first Bond Girl, creating a high standard for her successors.

50. James Bond is Scottish

When James Bond was 11 years old, his parents were killed in a mountain climbing accident. His father was Scottish, and his mother was Swiss.

51. How Many Times Has 007 Been Shot At?

After being shot at roughly 5,000 times as an agent for His Majesty’s Secret Service, Bond keeps saving the world.

52. Moore Needed Running Double

Roger Moore required a body double for all his movies because production was unsure of his awkward gait.

53. James Bond Vodka

James Bond’s drink of choice is a martini, shaken, not stirred. The favorite drink contains 130 calories, just enough to burn during a romantic tumble.

54. Weapons Training

During Skyfall filming, the cast and crew purchased 200,000 rounds of ammunition solely for weapons training.

55. Smoking in the Movies

James Bond smokes a cigarette in almost every scene, recorded to have smoked 70 cigarettes a day, painfully 3.5 packs a day. Bond stopped smoking in front of the camera after Die Another Day, though he smoked a cigar. Daniel Craig hasn’t lit up on camera yet.

56. James Bond MI16

The actuality of MI6, the agency 007 works for in the movies, was formally recognized by the British government in 1994.

The first James Bond car, the Sunbeam Alpine, is driven by Connery while being chased by The Three Blind Mice.

57. James Bond Car

Pierce Brosnan starred as 007 in Tomorrow Never Dies, where he destroyed more than 15 BMWs.

58. James Bond Card Game

Ian Fleming wrote in his books that James Bond enjoys playing baccarat. We see him playing the game in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Dr. No, Thunderball, Goldeneye, and Never Say Never Again.

59. How Many Books Mention 007?

007 appeared in 25 additional authorized books, bringing the total to 39 books if you include Ian Fleming’s 14 novels.

60. What Type of Gun Did Bond Use?

In the first five books, Bond used a Beretta 418: the sixth book, Nr. No, Fleming changed his gun to a Walther PPK. The shift occurred after Fleming corresponded with a veteran and gun collector. He advised Fleming to have Bond use the latter gun for speed and accuracy.

“No Time to Die” is the 25th 007 movie starring Daniel Craig and Léa Seydoux as the Bond Girl. They arrive in Matera, Italy, filming on location with director Cary Joji Fukunaga.Source: Franco Origlia

61. James Bond Villains

The villains in Fleming’s books make the stories so much fun to read and see on the big screen. Each villain is over-the-top entertainment and uniquely wicked, including Le Chiffre, Mr. Big, Sir Hugo Drax, Dr. Julius No, Auric Goldfinger, and Herr von Hammerstein.

62. Die Another Day

Starting with the first movie, Dr. No, to Quantum of Solace, 007 killed 352 people in the films.

63. Discovery of Sean Connery

Producer Cubby Broccoli saw Sean Connery in Darby O’Gill and the Little People and wanted to test his appeal to women. and took his wife to the movie, and she became impressed.

64. Aston-Martin and Gadgets

The first Bond film to feature gadgets and have him drive an Aston-Martin was Goldfinger. The movie was the first film ever to use a laser beam.

65. James Bond Opening Credits Figure

The figure in the opening credits, where the gun barrel opens, is Stuntman Bob Simmons. He played the iconic part in the first three movies.

Become a Film Producer

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Should you go to film school to become a film producer?

Becoming a film producer is a process of learning the ropes. This article offers advice from successful movie producers.

Go to Film School?

You can say, “No film school.” You save money that way and then work up the industry ladder to become a movie producer.

I talked with the owner of a puppet artist company. He has worked in the film industry for decades and told me he hires not fresh out of film school. He enjoys working with individuals who are diligent and eager to learn, rather than assuming they already possess all the knowledge. He explained that film school students often have preconceived notions of what it means to work in film. “They don’t want to work hard and work their way up the industry ladder.”

The film industry has its fair share of movie producers who were college dropouts or didn’t attend secondary education. Self-taught directors and producers seem endless if you look at the list. Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and Francis Ford Coppola are just a few to name. Each has their own story of how they worked their way into the film industry and became successful without attending or finishing film school.

What Makes a Good Movie Producer?

Becoming a movie producer is a bold and challenging profession. A producer makes a production happen. In Myrl A. Schreibman’s book Creative Producing from A to Z, you learn that the producer is the one who can obtain the creative ingredients to prompt a project to go or the person who can raise the funding to give the project a green light but who then turns it over to another producer who makes it happen.

I recommend reading Schreibman’s book because it covers all aspects of filmmaking, from location scouting to funding a movie.

To become a movie producer, you need to understand what a producer does and how to assume the role by adopting the mindset of being the creative force behind the project, whether it’s a movie, TV show, cable show, or theatrical play.

Some producers take on filmmaking responsibilities, such as earning tax or industry incentives, financing, product placement, or distribution deals. They specialize in the business’s niche until they become professionals and have a comprehensive understanding of the particular aspect of film production. They become part of a movie production because their experience is beneficial for that production.

Tom Cruise Award-Winning Producer

Tom Cruise, at one time, sponsored a film website, which Google highly ranked. The site said, “… learning how to become a movie producer puts you in the driver’s seat of film production. The producer is possibly the most misunderstood yet most important person involved with any movie. The producers – people like Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, and Jerry Bruckheimer – all join a film project at the very beginning and commit themselves to see it through to completion. In short, they’re the generals running the entire production, doing it all.”

Nothing could be closer to the truth. Producers are the ones who ensure the project is completed. They are the CEO or the general of the camp. It’s hard work, yet it has many rewards, such as an Oscar or a steady income.

Film producers are responsible for many aspects of the production.

Advantages of Film School Alumni

You can attend a film school with a proactive alum network. There, you can meet students who share the same desire as you: to produce movies. Writer and director Nicole Holofcener told me in an interview how she met her producer while attending film school in New York.

They met in film school, and he produced her first movie called Walking and Talking. The film was her first feature film, launching the careers of Catherine Keener, Liev Schreiber, and Anne Heche.

Holofcener told me that her producer friend was instrumental in getting the film completed and into the movie theaters. During the same interview, she advised me that attending film school is a great idea, provided you have the necessary funds.

Example of a Movie Producer

Jordan Peele, best known for directing Get Out, wears many hats in the movie industry. He’s an actor, director, and producer. He understands how to make movies.

He knows what it takes to become a successful movie producer. His so down-to-earth and realistic about the movie-making process. It’s hard for me to believe he starred in Mad TV and is a comedian.

“The producer is the one who is able to obtain the creative ingredients to prompt a project to go or the person who is able to raise the funding to give the project a green light but who then turns it over to another producer who makes it happen.” Mryl A. Schreibman

Movie Producer Salary

A movie producer’s average salary ranges from $44,000 to $176,000 per movie, with additional bonuses. Bonuses are a key factor in the movie producer’s success in the industry.

Those pleasant perks are what make being a producer so much fun. The bonuses include profit sharing and commission. Profit-sharing involves sharing the profits, whereas commission refers to bringing in investors and receiving a percentage of their investment. Then, there is the good old bonus, which is whatever the producer’s contract stipulates. An example is producing a movie under budget.

Movie Producer Benefits

The character of being a producer and the related jobs that go with the position are nothing short of an adventure. Once a producer is successful, they rarely quit the movie business because it is creative and rewarding. When you become a producer, you will have to work very hard and hustle because many people will depend on you. Their duties will be in your hands.

The 25 Best Film Schools Rankings | Hollywood Reporter

From the American Film Institute to France’s La Femis, see which institutions made The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural list.

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How to Become a Talent Agent

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A talent agent recognizes what gets their client to the top of the A-list in their trade. Here’s how to become an agent.

Being an agent is a creative job dealing with creative people.
Source: Moose Photos

Do You Need a College Degree to Become a Talent Agent?

Skilled talent agents recognize talent and know what will put their clients at the top of their particular trades. In movies, we call this the A-list.

Being a talent agent is a demanding job for any newcomer to the film industry. This field requires knowledge of marketing, law, promotions, and public relations.

It would be best to have a college degree, at least an AA in marketing. Most successful talent agents hold a degree in business law.

A talent agent may represent various people with specific talents. The most common, of course, are actors, but others who work with talent agents include models, singers, musicians, directors, screenwriters, authors, and professional athletes.

“Being a star is an agent’s dream, not an actor’s.” Robert Duvall

Ari Gold in “Entourage”

Is Beind an Agent Like Ari Gold in Entourage?

Whether or not being a talent agent is like Ari Gold in Entourage, it is crucial to know that the entertainment business is all about the “business.”

If you want to be a talent agent, you need to be dedicated and willing to work hard and be a part of the business of making movies, taking in sports, or reading a lot of scripts. Whatever niche you pick, make sure you love it to death and are willing to support your clients for blood.

How Does a Talent Agency Work?

Talent agents usually pick a talent to work with and stick with that type throughout their careers. Many choose to work exclusively with children, professional athletes, or authors. Some work with television series actors, commercial actors or film actors, or high-profile celebrities.

The larger agencies create package deals with studios where they include the actor, screenwriter, and director clients in the same movie production deal.

The larger talent agencies provide training programs, called internships, for individuals interested in a career as a talent agent. At first, the agency requires the intern to do errands and paperwork; there’s very little to do with working directly with talent.

“I wish to be cremated. One-tenth of my ashes shall be given to my agent, as written in our contract.” Groucho Marx

As an agent, you’ll be part of the filming business.

Successful Talent Agents Learn the Rules

When you join a talent agency, it is very wise to learn the rules of the land. You need to find out the dos and don’ts of the group. You do not want to step on anyone’s toes or make a blunder that could cost the agency money and reputation.

When an agency hires you, you begin as an assistant. The agency assigns you to an experienced agent, and you help them with their clients. How long you are in that position depends on how hard you work and how well you get along with other people in the agency. If you have a speciality like law or public relations, you can move up relatively soon, within a year or two.

What Does a Talent Agent Do?

Here are the everyday tasks an agency does:

  • Meet with current or potential clients to find out what type of talent they need for their upcoming projects and make talent suggestions.
  • Promoting talent to different clients through networking and public relations is primary in setting up auditions and jobs.
  • Schedule or book appointments to attract talent. Regulations and appropriate working hours need to be adhered to by the agent and agency.
  • Market the talent agency itself to obtain more talent. Procuring talent is a very competitive aspect of an industry town. So, keep your wits about you.
  • Collect fees due upon booking of auditions or securing talent. Billing requires a 30-day cycle.
  • Arrange classes and workshops, such as voice, acting, and specialized training, so that the talent can advance in their craft.

Agencies Keep Track of Residuals

A friend of mine heard a commercial she starred in went regional, which should have meant more pay (residuals) for her as an actor. Without an agent, it would have been trying for her to prove the increase in residuals.

She contacted her agent and explained to him what had happened. He immediately called the company responsible and got her residuals plus penalty fees. The agent earned his 10% fee, as well.

An agency’s job is to keep track of its clients’ residuals. Clients should receive residuals each time a commercial, TV, or movie airs on a network, cable, or streaming outlet.

“Every time I try to retire or even think of retiring from acting, my agent comes up with a script.” Anthony Hopkins

Differences Between “Union” and “Non-Union” Towns

In “union towns,” union agencies are registered with the unions and follow the rules as established by the organization. Working for a union agency is the ideal way to go because everyone in the business is on the same page. Study the union rules on your own: the right way is the union way.

Non-union agencies are not regulated, so they operate under different rules than union agencies. They can throw you a curve and present you with unexpected situations.

Your options are limited when looking for work as a talent agent in a non-union or non-industry town. Try locating and listing the agencies within a 100-mile radius. Meet with each owner or manager and explore how you can assist the agency. Ask to intern for three months and then be considered for a permanent position.

Is Being a Talent Agent for You?

I don’t think being an agent is a cushy job. It takes hard work and dedication to work with the talent you support to the core. It’s also a people-person job that requires handholding and knowing when to offer sound advice to your client.

Favorite Sushi Movie Scenes

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Movies that have scenes with sushi. Look at my list, and you’ll find some films you recognize.

Sushi in Film

Before we look at sushi movie scenes, I want to share the first time I ate sushi with you. I thought eating raw fish was not a delicacy. I thought I’d develop a super long worm in my stomach if I ate any of it.

A Japanese friend invited me to eat at a sushi restaurant near me. I told her of my fear of eating sushi. She told me the place she had in mind served her favorite sushi rolls, saying, “I will make sure you eat the good sushi.”

One day, I started thinking about sushi scenes in movies. I am excited about the idea and perused movies with sushi themes or scenes worth mentioning. I even asked some sushi masters if they knew of any sushi scenes in film. I went further and asked some sushi experts if they recalled seeing any sushi scenes in movies.

I discovered that there are nine movies with sushi scenes while writing this article. Two I left out because they are not my favorite.

The result of my search is fruitful, and the list is below. Most people will recognize these movies. They are well-known and made tons of money at the box office.

Seven Favorite Sushi Scenes

  1. Isle of Dogs (2018)
  2. The Breakfast Club (1985)
  3. Sex and the City 2 (2010)
  4. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
  5. Defending Your Life (1991)
  6. John Wick 3: Parabellum (2019)
  7. Johnny English (2003)

The sushi scene in Wes Anderson’s 2018 stop-motion animation classic, “Isle of Dogs,” took nearly six months to complete.

1. Isle of Dogs (2018)

Stop-motion animation movies by Wes Anderson take a whole new level of the filmmaking process. Anderson’s stories keep the audience interested in the sparky dialogue and visual touches of humor. For some, the movie may seem a bit quirky. The sushi scene in Isle of Dogs is a masterpiece of stop-motion animation.

The whole premise of the scene is to poison the despotic leader of the Asian nation that sends dogs to the remote island. If you haven’t seen this movie, I recommend it. All of the Anderson movies entertain.

2. The Breakfast Club (1985)

John Hughes wrote and directed The Breakfast Club. A few years later, he wrote and produced Home Alone. The movie is about five high school students sharing detention, who eventually talk about their problems and discover they have a lot in common. Each student is different, but all are exaggerated stereotypes.

The poignant movie stars Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, and Anthony Michael Hall. Even today, I can safely say this is a movie that cuts deeply into the overall problems of public education in America.

My daughter relates to this movie because each student is very different from the others. They become friends while serving detention. Each student copes with the social pressures of high school, adapting to the high school scene as best they can.

The sushi scene is so funny because Ringwald opens up her bento box, and the others look at her like she opened up a can of sardines.

Kim Cattrall (far right) was also a sushi champion in “Sex and the City 2” (2010), but for different reasons. Source: Martamenchini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3. Sex and the City 2 (2010)

Sex and the City 2 takes a silly look at sushi to entice a romantic interlude. Samantha covers sexy areas of her naked body. She is waiting for her lover when the phone rings. She obviously can’t answer the phone.

Honestly, I have never seen the cable show or the movies. I did watch the clip, which is age-restricted. Unfortunately, the clip with sound is no longer available. I posted one without sound. Hopefully, you’ve seen the movie and or gotten the idea. The visual of this scene is what is funny, not the dialogue.

The above video is restricted because the content has suggestive characteristics.

4. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

One of my favorite Pixar movies is Monsters, Inc, where we watch Mike Wazowski, the green, one-eyed friend of Sulley, take Celia out for a special sushi dinner. We see the exaggerated greetings of sushi chefs upon the monsters entering the restaurant, and Mike’s girlfriend, Celia, is very impressed.

The scene is hilarious because Mike tries to keep it romantic despite the slapstick humor from Sulley, who’s trying to keep the monsters from finding out about Boo, a child forbidden in the monster world.

5. Defending Your Life (1991)

Defending Your Life follows Albert Brooks’ character, Daniel, who dies after getting hit by a bus while driving his brand-new BMW.

He ends up in Judgment City defending his life. Going through the rigors of Judgment, he decides to dine at the sushi bar. I have a clip of the scene below poking fun at the over-the-top hospitality of sushi chefs.

The movie is fun to watch and also stars Meryl Streep. Her character goes through Judgment better than Brooks’ character, the prevailing theme of this deadpan funny film.

6. John Wick 3: Parabellum (2019)

A sushi scene in a John Wick movie fits the production design with vibrant reds and metallic undertones. Of course, Chad Stahelski directs a dark and rainy scene. Though Keanu Reeves is not in this scene, Asia Kate Dillon, playing The Adjudicator, approaches the sushi bar. Here we see how skilled the assassin is at being a sushi chef.

If you know anything about Blowfish, it’s one of the most difficult to prep. True, you only need to cut it. Incorrectly preparing Blowfish releases toxins and could have killed Dillion’s character.

7.  Johnny English (2003)

The hilarious Johnny English film series stars Rowan Atkinson in the title role, with Ben Miller and John Malkovich in supporting roles.
It is a parody and tribute to the James Bond franchise and Atkinson’s Mr. Bean character.

Watch this sushi scene and enjoy the bumbling character Atkinson, who is so brilliant at portraying.

“The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” Season 1 & 2

episodic, family, legend, television,

Watch the television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet: Season 1 and 2 as four-DVD sets from MPI Media Group. The collections contain 39 episodes, representing the complete first two seasons, 78 episodes.

The TV series was a long-running sitcom ranked high on some of the top lists of television. MPI Media Group has restored the entire library of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet from the original 35mm picture and sound elements in association with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, which preserves the aspects on behalf of the Nelson family.

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet lasted 14 record-breaking seasons, totaling 435 episodes. It aired on ABC-TV from 1952 through 1966 as a positive, wholesome series epitomizing an idyllic American 1950s lifestyle.

Its gentle humor came to the screen through the real-life Nelson family, which included Ozzie and his wife Harriet with their sons, David and Rick. They portrayed themselves in a trendsetting blend of fact-meets-fiction comedy decades before semi-reality-based shows like Seinfeld.

The series humorously chronicled the daily lives of the Nelsons as David and Ricky grew up before millions of weekly viewers. Besides Ozzie Nelson being a real-life bandleader and Harriet Nelson, a singer, the series would help launch the musical career of their younger son, Ricky, who would become a teen idol with such enduring hits as “Travelin’ Man” and “Hello Mary Lou.”

The longest-running live-action sitcom in U.S. television history until It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia surpassed it on December 1, 2021, when the FXX series debuted its 15th season.

Still, Ozzie and Harriet hold the record for most episodes produced, totaling 435. Among its Emmy nominations and many other accolades, TV Guide placed Ozzie Nelson at number 21 on its list of “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time.” Others on the list include Andy Taylor, Ben Cartwright and Steve Douglas.

And now, for the very first time, in association with the Nelson family, the entire series arrives digitally restored for its 70th Anniversary with complete episodes from the original film negatives for superior picture quality. 

Viewing these restored episodes, I am amazed by the picture and sound quality.  

I watched season one, which contains all 39 complete, fun-filled episodes on four DVDs, starting with the premiere show and other rare adventures not seen on television in decades. The humor seems dated, but it’s clean and trouble-free.

I saw Don DeFore (Hazel) as Ozzie’s neighbor, pal Thorny. Others included guest stars from classic television and films, including Hal Smith (The Andy Griffith Show), Ellen Corby (The Waltons), Janet Waldo (The Jetsons), Joseph Kearns (Dennis the Menace), Frank Nelson (I Love Lucy) and other familiar faces. 

Season two also contains 39 episodes — with more lost moments appearing for the first time since broadcast initially — on four discs and features such guest stars as Frank Cady (Petticoat Junction), John Carradine (The Munsters) and Lurene Tuttle (Psycho).

It’s hard to believe Ozzie and Harriet started visiting us on television in 1952, making this vintage series binge-worthy  

“Respect” Dazzles, Celebrating Aretha Franklin

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Respect is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.

“Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it.”
— Aretha Franklin

Vocal powerhouse and Oscar and Grammy awards winner Jennifer Hudson stars as legendary singer Aretha Franklin in a true story about the “Queen of Soul.” Respect focuses on Franklin’s formative years, in which director Liesl Tommy says that it “contained things the general public doesn’t know about her.”

Watching her journey to become the brilliant musician with Franklin’s original songs, sung by Hudson, was profound to witness. From the beginning, we see a young woman with the most incredible voice in the world. But something was amiss. She needed to find her own voice.

In the film’s production notes, Tommy stated he felt strongly about “showing a meaningful experience of a young Black girl’s childhood.”

I found it interesting that Franklin came from a wealthy family, dominating the film primarily through her father and sisters.

Tommy related to that aspect of Franklin’s life, “As a little girl myself who grew up listening to people talk around the dinner table about fighting for freedom for themselves and for future generations, I know firsthand that it affects your life forever. It’s who you are. Aretha understood that, and it’s what made her art activism. When you talk about the “Queen of Soul,” her church was her activism.”

The movie reminds us of listening to Aretha Franklin. The emotion she sang with and deep feelings she conveyed — she spoke to us. Tommy describes it well, “Millions of people have a beautiful voice, but she channeled her emotions into her music in a way that no one else could.”

R_07374_RC Actor Jennifer Hudson and director Liesl Tommy on the set of RESPECT A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

The movie tells us who she was and her history of protest music. We see Franklin heal herself through her music. You can feel the depth of who she was as a being, though there is complexity and depth based on her relationships.

As we all know, Aretha Franklin’s voice is the best, most powerful, and culturally significant voice of all time. In the movie, we hear hit songs: “Respect,” “Natural Woman,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “Think,” to name a few. They are classics that defined the resistance and resilience of Black people during the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Power Movement, and the Women’s Movement — and still resonate today at the moment in time where the world is in crisis and need of soulfulness.

The movie shows Franklin being a child music prodigy who grew up with great privilege in a household in Detroit that understood the importance of social protest, racial justice, and community organizing centered squarely in the foundation of the Black church — faith, service, and self-actualization. Respect shows us Franklin’s challenge in navigating and overcoming grief that would become the artistic inspiration. In return, she created musical masterpieces that saved lives and moved culture.

Respect establishes that she was a musical genius when she was a child. You discover she had all those albums that did not become hits at Columbia Records. The movie begins at the church and ends in the church with the journey in between. Tommy tells the story of a woman with the most incredible voice in the world but still doesn’t know what her voice is. “And that was the story that I felt like I wanted to tell, and that was what ended up being the center of the film, the spine of the film.”

Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington in RESPECT A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

Jennifer Hudson’s portrayal of Aretha Franklin is believable. She sings the icon’s songs herself, which is fantastic but not surprising. Hudson has a powerful voice. But she is not Franklin. She is a depiction of her.

Interestingly, Hudson was Franklin’s opening act one time. “After American Idol, Aretha Franklin was doing a show in Maryville, Indiana, and I wanted to open for her. Everyone knew she did not allow singers to open for her instead of starting her shows with a comedian. And, then, she approved of me to open for her. So, that was a dream, as are the many moments I shared with her.”

Marlon Wayans stars as Ted White and Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in RESPECT A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

Nabbing that gig as an opening act, as Hudson says, “I find especially now; she has been a huge guide for the structure and spirit of my career.”

Franklin’s niece, Sabrina Garrett Owens, was very close to her Auntie Aretha. And very proud to see Jennifer Hudson take on the role of her aunt. “A lot of it has to do with the similarities between the two [Aretha and Jennifer]. They both grew up in church. They both had that gospel sound to their voices. Jennifer has a wide range, the same as Aretha did. I see a lot of similarities in their style.”

The story begins with her childhood, her father, played brilliantly by Forest Whitaker. Affected by his wife’s death, he anoints Franklin at a young age to be a gospel star and be different and better than the rest.

Knowing that the movie producers, Scott Bernstein and Harvey Mason, Jr. talked with Aretha Franklin on the phone about her story, so she could gauge it as her legacy is astonishing. “So, we knew we were going to end at the ‘Amazing Grace’ live album recording. The spine of the story would be a movie about a father and daughter relationship. And, that gave us a focus to tell the period of her rise, and the origin story of her becoming the ‘Queen of Soul.”’

Written for the screen by Tracey Scott Wilson, the story captures that significant time in Franklin’s life, the sixties and seventies, establishing her relationship with her father, and she meets her first husband. Then, she broke up with her father, her church and had to find her own faith.

She meets Ted White, played by Marlon Wayans. They marry. He manages her career during the early days of her Atlantic Records. “She went from singing standards to, you know, gospel to, okay, let’s go take you into becoming the R&B queen or just the queen period, Aretha Franklin,” according to Wayans. “So he changed the way she dressed and changed her, changed the venues she was playing and changed the record company. He was a catalyst in Aretha’s life.”

Jennifer Hudson shares a different perspective. “The biggest impact on Aretha’s life was her father. I think he is what pushed her towards her legacy and helped her own her gift. There have been times when she didn’t necessarily feel like singing, but it was a calling. He reminded her of that often, and I think that she became like the symbolic first lady of the church in a way. It helped lead Aretha to her ministry and music, one reason why she became so experienced and impactful at the height of the Civil Rights Movement.”

The rest of the talented cast includes Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess and Mary J. Blige.

Blu-ray and DVD Bonus Features:

The Making of Respect: Explore the unique telling of this Aretha Franklin story, what the project meant to all involved and how music played a pivotal role in crafting this film.

Becoming Aretha: Take a behind-the-scenes look at Jennifer Hudson’s incredible transformation into the “Queen of Soul” including her commitment to the character, her connection with the late singer, and why inhabiting the legendary artist felt more like destiny than anything else.

Capturing a Legacy: A celebration of director Liesl Tommy’s artistry and professionalism as the cast and crew express their appreciation and admiration for her and her process.

From Muscle Shoals: Sit down with the cast, crew and some of the original musicians that recorded with Aretha at Muscle Shoals to learn about this crucial time period in Aretha’s life and how it helped propel her evolution.

Exploring the Design of Respect: Production designer Ina Mayhew and costume designer Clint Ramos discuss the research they conducted in order to create the beautiful sets in the film as well as the various custom-made wardrobes that span three decades of style.

“Dark Shadows” Documentary Goes Beyond Barnabas, Jonathan Frid

documentary, legend,

Being raised by a single parent of three children, I didn’t watch Sesame Street. Instead, I watched soap operas because our babysitter insisted, “they were more entertaining.” Dark Shadows was one of her favorites and mine, too.

Dark Shadows was an unlikely daytime hit TV show. It even became a cultural touchstone for generations of viewers as the only gothic soap opera. Some say it still casts spells on new and old fans.

Jonathan Frid, who played the tormented vampire Barnabas Collins, is profiled in a biographical film, Dark Shadows and Beyond – The Jonathan Frid Story. The documentary is currently streaming on digital platforms and is available on DVD and Blu-ray.

The documentary shines a positive light on Jonathan Frid, which is refreshing compared to other documentaries of late. The 102-minute movie covers the Canadian-born star’s fascinating life and career as a Shakespearean actor — on stage with Katharine Hepburn and poignant advice from Sir Laurence Olivier.

If you are looking for a scandalous past or real skeleton in Frid’s closet, you’ll find none of that in this detailed story of the man beneath the vampire’s cloak. The documentary explores his personal and professional struggles, artistic triumphs and rises to fame shared through personal letters to his mother read by fellow soap star Ian Buchanan.

We also hear from Frid’s friends, family and colleagues, who offer a fresh view of the soap opera legend. We hear from veteran talk show host and Yale Drama School classmate David Cavett, actresses Marion Ross and Christine Pickles. Even the co-stars of Dark Shadows share a positive portrait, including David Selby, Lara Parker, Marie Wallace, Nancy Barrett, James Strom, and Kathryn Leigh Scott.

Frid’s story is about a dedicated actor who is passionate about his craft. He was well-liked by many, mentioning his generosity and kindness.

In archival interviews, Frid found the Barnabas role fulfilling because of time shifts in the storyline. He jumped back in time before he was a vampire, which showed the complexities of the character most soaps could never fathom. It was as if he was playing a dozen roles. Despite the circumstances Barnabas encountered, Frid knew being a vampire meant he was never just a vampire. He was a tragic character who felt deep emotions — including guilt. Intricacies only an actor with well-refined acting skills would perceive or understand, resulting in a sensational character and an enormous fan base.

The DVD or Blu-ray comes with rare performance footage, such as archival material from Frid’s private collections, which are gems. Also included is a PBS TV discussion with Frid, promotional pieces with the actor, Frid reading an excerpt of Washington Irving’s classic tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Best of Barnabas, a compilation video.

As producer Mary O’Leary says, “Jonathan’s years on Dark Shadows have been well covered in print interviews. To gain insight, I chose to interview people who were close to him, ranging from his years at Yale to his work in regional theater to those involved in his one-man shows, which he toured across the country in his later years.”

Any fan of Dark Shadows will appreciate this well-thought-out documentary of a professional actor. He hit his mark on a unique and yet dissimilar soap opera on American TV.

Thank you HiTechGlitz.com for the additional information.

Jackie: Official Trailer

drama, legend, movies, ,

Directed by Pablo Larraín, Jackie is another look at the Kennedy tragedy. How many times can Hollywood tell this story? Which angle of the lens are we seeing the Kennedy lineage this time? Fortunately, Natalie Portman is playing the role of Jackie Onassis Kennedy. It appears in this trailer that we will, once again, relive one of the most important and tragic moments in American history.

The movie follows First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy and places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband’s assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a spiritual portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband’s legacy and the world of “Camelot” that they created and loved so well.

Jackie nabbed several Independent Spirit Awards nominations for Best Feature, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Female Lead (Portman).

The Last King

action, drama, foreign films, legend, , , , ,

the-last-king_rgb-3d-blurayThe Last King, directed by Oscar-nominated director Nils Gaup, follows an arduous and awe-inspiring journey through the snow-covered Norwegian mountains. Starring Jakob Oftebro and Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones), surprisingly, the movie turned out to be a great adventure story. With some awesome downhill, to die for, skiing stunts, so exhilarating. I totally enjoyed it.  The story has everything from action and drama to love and revenge.

The fact that this movie is based on true events intrigued me even more. It takes place in 1204 when the Norway had been in the middle of a civil war for decades because of a battle for the throne between the Norwegian King Håkon, son of legendary King Sverre of Norway, and the Church’s Bishop henchmen.

The King, on his deathbed after falling ill from a failed coup, soon welcomes a son, born in secrecy, with a woman named Inga of Varteig and that he is the heir to the throne. Yet, half the Kingdom wants the baby dead.

To shield their newborn King from those looking to end the family bloodline, two Birch Leg warriors, Torstein, played by Hivju, and Skjervald, played by Oftebro, make the arduous journey across the snow-covered terrain to return him and his mother safely to the kingdom.

For the life of me, I didn’t know what a “Birch Leg” was until I saw this movie. The birkebeinerne or “Birch Legs” (basically are the King’s men) who fought to protect him from the Baglers, an opposing party, supporting the Bishop of course, that wanted him dead and his bloodline ended.

The movie is not English and has subtitles, but after ten minutes into the movie. I didn’t notice the subtitles. The story captured my attention with the time period and the culture. The realistic battles and beautiful scenery of snow-covered trees and mountains and the Northern Lights filmed by Peter Mokrosinski stimulated my interest in finding out if the baby King will make it back and save the country.

With that, the history of this story is amazing because of what this baby represented for Norway. The movie is about the fierce fight that saved the life of the young child who was heir to the throne. He eventually ascended at the age of 13 and reigned for 46 years. It was a peaceful reign that united the country.

Games of Thrones fans will be happy to view this movie because both Oftebro and Hivju are believable warriors. They have a strong bond and also hold a strong sense of honor in protecting the baby. The rest of the cast complemented the story and made it richer in content. It’s a gem of a movie and worth watching.

Snoopy, Come Home

animals, animation, children, comedy, family, legend, , ,

snoopycmehomI visited the Schulz museum in Santa Rosa, California for my daughter’s sake, thinking I would be bored out of my head. Boy, was I wrong, I discovered Charles Schulz, the genius who created a series of Peanuts comic strips that voiced the current social conflicts of the time and still today. Women rights, pray in schools, draft, and war. Growing up, I did read the comic strip without realizing he was bringing up social issues. As a young girl, I marveled at the expressions and characters of each personality. I watched the television specials with my family falling in love with Snoopy.

Watching Snoopy, Come Home brought memories back during the nights I’d watch the Peanuts specials with my family. I am still in love with Snoopy because he is so innocent yet creative. In this Peanuts movie, the story is quite good. It begins with him running off to visit Lila, his original owner, who is in the hospital. Woodstock goes with him, but they are captured by a rather overbearing girl who demands Snoopy and Woodstock be her pets.

Being clever the two escape, which includes some very funny and misplaced steps of amusement. Back at Charlie Brown’s home, he is concerned with finding out about Lila. Who is she? I will not share the ending of the movie, but I will tell you that it is so much fun to watch Snoopy get into many mishaps as he tries to sneak into places where dogs are not allowed.

The movie is tried and true, and now released on Blu-ray. The new format adds more of a sparkle with a widescreen format. Keep in mind parents, that the going away party for Snoopy might be a tearjerker for the kids or trouble understanding why people are so sad at a party. Still, the humor is fun to watch and offers great laughs.