Gilbert Saldivar stars in the movie Shine, the audience award winner for best feature at the 2017 Urbanworld Film Festival. Directed by Anthony Nardolillo, the story follows a family, community, and culture. Together, they learn the value of not backing down and fighting for what they want in life.
Two Puerto Rican brothers grew up in Spanish Harlem in New York. They gained popularity as the best Salsa dancers on the street, but separated after a tragedy. They come together years later on conflicting sides of gentrification.
Gentrification is “the restoration of run-down urban areas by the middle class (resulting in the displacement of lower-income people)” – WordNet.
Ballet Folkorico Dancer
Gilbert’s dance training stems from growing up learning and becoming a ballet folklórico dancer. He performed the traditional Mexican dance in Texas, France, and Mexico. He played the traditional Mexican dance in Texas, France, and Mexico. After he started college, “I branched out and started dancing for the NBA and the WPA for a couple [of] years.”
Gilbert moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dancing career and dance with pop artists like Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. His eyes brighten when he talks about his passion and says, “I meant to be a dancer, and it just kind of flows.”
Movie Musicals
He is humble yet excited about Shine’s popularity and hopes to continue working in film. He aspires to be the Gene Kelley or Fred Astaire of Latino Dancers. He talked about the recent surge of movie musicals like La La Land, the remake of Gypsy, and West Side Story. “I find myself being drawn to wanting to create. The movie musicals are pretty popular today. I would love to kind of go in that direction. I would love to continue dancing in films.”
His talent in dancing and acting landed him the role of Junior in Shine. Junior is the younger of two Puerto Rican brothers who are separated by a tragedy. They find themselves on opposite sides of a gentrification project seven years later. Junior is trying to maintain the neighborhood’s culture that their father created. The older brother, Ralphi, played by Jorge Burgos, works with other corporations building locally and wants to redevelop their family’s neighborhood. Thus, raising the cost of living beyond the family’s means and closing down the Salsa Dance Studio.
Debbie Reynolds Legacy Studio
Gilbert stressed that gentrification occurs in many lower-income areas and cited a famous dance studio that went through a similar experience to the one in the movie. “I just talked to a group of friends about the Debbie Reynolds Legacy Dance Studio. It’s the most legendary dance studio that exists. Michael Jackson used to rehearse there, and they’re dealing with gentrification issues right now. The studio is about to be closed down for the same reasons that happened in the movie.”
The movie’s message is for those trying to maintain a location in a low-income area. Gilbert expresses the need for a film like Shine. “It communicates about gentrification. It’s something that people need to find out about.”
“Shine” is a film about salsa dancing, family, and gentrification in New York’s Spanish Harlem.
Director Anthony Nardolillo caught CBS’s eye due to this film and is about to direct TV episodes for the network.
Shine the Movie
Gilbert talked more about his friend being a part-owner of the Debbie Reynolds Legacy Studio.
Because of redevelopment in the area, the studio’s rent will triple. “It’s too difficult to move on with the people who own the studio. It is kind of like what happens in the film.”
As a small independent film, Shine experienced growth and played in 600 theaters across the US.
Christina Aguilera loved this movie, and it won the Audience Award for Best Feature at HBO Urbanworld 2017
New York Urbanworld Film Festival
Gilbert senses the popularity of the movie comes from movies like Crazy Rich Asians and Black Panther. “We were carrying that pattern because every minority is wanting to see themselves on screen and wanting stories like them because they’re happening, and it matters,” explains Gilbert. “It’s creating this momentum with the film. The movie took on this magical power when we introduced it in New York at the Urbanworld Film Festival a year ago.”
With crime escalating and the economy on a hellish rollercoaster dive, it is a perfect time to view the 1970s tough-cop action thriller Dirty Harry.
The script, by the married team Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink (based on her unpublished story), Dean Riesner, and John Milius (unaccredited), is a lesson in a tight, fast-paced story.
The .44 Magnum he carries guides a story’s worth of sharp dialogue that launched a movie legend.
Eastwood states the memorable tough-cop line while holding a .44 Magnum, “Make my Day.” He repeats the famous line at the end of the movie. He baits the punk to gamble with his streetwise Russian Roulette.
Who is Clint Eastwood?
Don Siegel’s stylish, almost surreal, at times direction and editing set the pace for Clint Eastwood’s incredible performance as Harry Callahan, a middle-aged, individualist, unconventional cop who throws away the rulebook but gets the short end of the stick.
The screenwriters give Callahan some of the most memorable lines and witty comments in film history, thus establishing the territory for how far a script can go to create the antihero of all jerks while keeping the audience on his side.
The unsolved Zodiac murder case in San Francisco is eerily contemporary today. The opening scene of a public tribute to San Francisco police officers killed in the line of duty fades to the muzzle-barrel end of a high-powered rifle of a serial sniper, a baby-faced hippie killer, on a rooftop with a telescopic lens aimed at a young woman in a yellow, one-piece swimsuit. She swims her lap, he pulls the trigger, the bullet hits her, and she sinks below the surface as the water turns red.
Who is Harry Callahan?
Enter Harry Callahan, the lone wolf investigating the crime scene by himself. He finds the used shell of the shot and a ransom note pinned to a TV antenna. The first few words he says throughout the film are direct responses: “Jesus.”
The handwritten note from the deranged sniper calling himself Scorpio says he will enjoy killing one person every day until he receives one hundred thousand dollars. It will be his pleasure to shoot a Catholic priest or a nigger. I can’t help but remind us of the sniper killings in the D.C. area.
Favorite Dirty Harry Quote
Those surveyed said their favorite Dirty Harry quote is “You’ve got to ask yourself a question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?! The next favorite quote is “Go Ahead, Make My Day.”
Dialogue Makes the Movie
Spiteful and rude, Callahan was summoned to the Mayor’s office. After the Mayor inquires what he has done about the Scorpio case so far, Callahan complains, waiting, “Oh well, for the past three-quarters of an hour, I’ve been sitting on my ass in your outer office, waiting for you.”
Most Unforgettable Movie Cop Scene
Up next is probably one of the most unforgettable cop scenes in film history, which is often mistaken for the film’s opening scene.
Callahan drives up in his navy blue sedan on a San Francisco street and parks illegally at the red curb in front of an adult bookstore. He walks to a local Burger Den restaurant to order his jumbo hot dog. Callahan casually asks the cook about a tan Ford across the street in front of the bank, with the usual lack of excitement. He suspects a bank robbery and asks the cook to phone the police department and report a two-eleven in progress. Callahan says, “Now, just wait until the cavalry arrives.” he hears the bank’s alarm system and a gunshot after one bite of his hot dog and says, “Oh, Sh-t!”
Clint Eastwood shows how to point a gun at the camera.
“I have a very strict gun control policy: if there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it.”— Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry Quotes
Callahan’s calm and collected strides outside pull out his monstrous, long-barreled, heavyweight Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum. He single-handedly stops the heist by shooting the fleeing bank robbers. Still chewing his hot dog, Dirty Harry fires his sixth shot at the last fleeing robber. He looks down at his pant leg, which indicates blood seeped through from a leg wound. Dirty Harry walks over to the bank entrance. He threatens the wounded robber, who is reaching for his shotgun on the sidewalk.
Aiming the .44 Magnum, Callahan says his memorable tough-cop line baits the criminal to try and use the shotgun- gamble on luck with his streetwise version of Russian Roulette.
The dialogue contributes to the fast-paced movie, while the audience sees Callahan as a tough, unscrupulous cop. In the film review for the New York Times, critic Roger Greenspun describes Callahan as: “Dirty is Harry’s given epithet, and he carries it proudly enough. But he is a knight in shining armor whose dirtiness is mostly rubbed off from the scummy world he keeps trying to wipe clean.”
Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood is not only a fine actor but also an award-winning director and jazz musician. Each project he works on has a social message important to our society.
Like Dirty Harry, Eastwood communicates the need to help the underdogs and support this generation’s heroes.
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you have most likely read all of J.K. Rowling’s books. If you are not a reader, then you watch the Warner Bros. movies. They grabbed your attention, and you couldn’t get away. The obsession with the Harry Potter stories is worldwide, whether it’s the books or just the movies, or both. The story is one that the whole family can experience together, and I highly recommend it. When your family decides to watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, snuggle up because it’s time to share a much darker and deeper Harry Potter movie than the earlier ones.
Moviegoers’ first reaction to Half-Blood Prince is how much those kids have grown up. They look so much older, and the story grows with them and gets darker. The actors surpassed their adolescence, and the characters have mastered their wizard training. If you have read the book, you are aware of the movie’s overall plot and outcome.
Sure. The story is darker, and Harry Potter learns more about Voldemort’s dark secrets and how to overpower the evil wizard once and for all. One main character in the story will perish, which is a pivotal point in Rowling’s series and may be hard to bear.
Harry Potter Books or Movies?
Those surveyed indicated that 50% had read the books before seeing the Harry Potter movies. The other 50% split between seeing the films and then deciding to read the books, and never reading the books at all.
Yates Directs Harry Potter Movies
David Yates directs the movie, and he is by far the best director of the franchise, as evidenced by his return to finish the last three installments after directing Order of the Phoenix.
Yates’s experience as a British television director keeps the story above the special effects. Yates told IMDB, “I like to create an atmosphere where actors feel safe enough to take risks. I certainly don’t believe in being a macho bully. I’m not interested in frightening good work out of people. It’s bollocks,” he continues. “In an ideal world, I’d bounce between big projects and no-budget TV dramas with fantastic scripts. Many Hollywood films tend to be bloated, bombastic, and loud. At the same time, I do like the infrastructure of making a blockbuster; it’s like having a big train set.”
Young Tom Riddle
In Half-Blood Prince, we discover detailed information about the young Tom Riddle, the boy. He eventually grows up to be Lord Voldemort, played brilliantly by Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, the nephew of Ralph Fiennes. Ralph Fiennes plays Voldemort, which makes the casting quite a family affair.
Another new cast member of the franchise is Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn, the new potions teacher, a plot-driven character in the Harry Potter story. Broadbent’s resume is extensive and probably one of the most favored character actors in the U.K. and the U.S.
Rowling’s Final Scene
So, sit down with your family and enjoy the sixth installment of the Harry Potter films. At the end of the movie, Harry reflects with Ron and Hermione on the difference between him and Voldemort. It’s a meaningful line and poignant, which is why we read Rowling’s series and flock to see Harry Potter movies.
“Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Mobile Game”
Even though we read the books, watch the movies, and see spin-offs like Fantastic Beasts, a Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Mobile Game offers a chance to play a game set in the franchise. The mobile game is just another way to enjoy Harry Potter.
Play the video promoting the new game, and you will see some reactions to the game from real Harry Potter talent, like one of the Phelps brothers. The game launch at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando was exciting and eventful for those who attended.
It is one of the first games where players experience being a character they choose and a Hogwarts student.
Future of Harry Potter
With spin-offs from Harry Potter stories, the new television series, the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the theme parks, and mobile games, you walk into a Barnes & Noble bookstore and see Harry Potter fandom from the original story, Fantastic Beasts. Anything is possible with such a fantasy story.
Rowling’s work inspires people to dream and to be part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, or to write their own fantasy books where families and friends bond, sharing a fanciful reality.
Kids and adults love movies about dogs because they are so unpredictable. Some of us grew up with Clifford the Big Red Dog movies and Hallmark dog movies. We watched them over and over again.
Dog movies are endearing to watch. We don’t know what will happen in the end. The endings are either sad or happy. The tragic endings, like My Dog Skip, teach a lesson. We watch them over and over because we know what happens in the movie. Even if it is sad, we still watch it again.
Dog movies are stressful because the dogs get stolen or lost, but are returned or found at the end of each film. The dog gets hurt, and there is an emotional reunion between the owner and the dog. Most of the time, the dog survives an injury with a happy ending.
An interesting point, not many dog movies are about girl dogs. Girl dog movies are rare because of discrimination. What is wrong with a girl dog movie?
Enough said, now, let us take a look at some incredible dog movies.
1. My Dog Skip (2000)
Based on a well-known writer’s memoir, My Dog Skip takes place during WWII and stars two great talents, Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane. The dog doesn’t get stolen, but Willie and Skip are fast friends as they turn bullies into friends and tangle with ill-fated moonshiners who threaten to kill the dog. A pretty girl shows an interest in Skip, who brings her and Willie together.
The movie’s conflict centers on Willie’s dad, who thinks he should have real friends rather than a dog. But Willie overcomes that as he grows up.
The most stressful scene is near the end when Skip runs away because Willie’s temper flares up, and he kicks Skip. He apologizes for his behavior, and Skip forgives him. All in all, it is a beautifully told story. Here is the ending where you grab a tissue.
2. Beethoven (1992)
Beethoven is a classic dog movie with several sequels. Kids should first see the original film because it stars Charles Gordon and the late Dean Jones. Both actors are brilliant. Gordon plays the father who brings the lovable dog home and soon finds Beethoven growing too big for his liking. Jones, cast against type, makes his scenes entertaining. He is an evil Vet who tries to kidnap the dog. Bonnie Hunt plays Gordon’s wife and the mother of their adorable kids.
Watch the movie, and you will notice several up-and-coming actors of the time, including Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, and David Duchovny.
A hilarious scene is when Beethoven comes in from playing in the mud. Gordon holds his own in the scene, but the dog steals the show. Another funny scene is when George (Gordon) hits the vet (Jones). Watching that scene makes seeing the movie worth it.
3. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (1992)
Hachi is not like other dog movies. Hachi doesn’t go missing or get kidnapped. The film is based on a true story about a dog’s devotion to his master.
The story is about a dog’s loyalty to his master. Richard Gere stars as the owner of Hachi. Joan Allen plays Gere’s wife, and Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) plays Carl, the store owner.
The movie answers the question, “Why are dog movies so sad?” It is because the story is so good.
I don’t want to say too much about the movie because it is a simple but powerful tale. Make sure you have a box of tissues because the story is heartwarming and a tear-jerker.
4. Air Bud (1997)
Air Bud is your basic dog story, but he doesn’t get stolen. He ran away from the original owner because he had abused him. Bud is a golden retriever and has a knack for playing basketball well. He brightens up a high schooler named Josh by helping him play better basketball.
The best scene in the movie is when Bud has to choose between the original owner and Josh. It’s a long scene where Josh says, “Come here, Buddy.” Will Bud go back to the abusive owner or stay with Josh? Enjoy the trailer. I love the line, “Mom, remember when I had a hamster?”
5. 101 Dalmatians (1961)
Here is one of the few girl dog movies. I know I am pushing the envelope when I say it is a girl dog movie, but Perdita, the wife of Pongo, plays an important role, the mother of the stolen Dalmatians. Even though the Disney cartoon characters seemed entertaining, the movie was very stressful.
Cruella De Vil decides to steal the puppies for their fur. The clip shows wanting to buy the puppies. When I first watched the movie as a kid, I truly believed that an animal network existed, where all animals could talk to each other around the world and help one another.
With that, take a look at the bumbling criminals. They are funny in this clip.
101 Dalmatians Trailer
6. Show Dogs (2018)
Max is a Rottweiler police dog voiced by Ludacris. His latest assignment is going undercover as a show dog in one of the top dog shows in the world. His human partner Frank, played by Will Arnett, tries to stop a disaster in the dog show. The cast includes Stanley Tucci, Shaquille O’Neal, Jordin Sparks, Natasha Lyonne, Gabriel Iglesias, and Omar Chaparro.
The movie is filled with owners and their adorable dogs.
7. Dog Days (2018)
Dog Days is a movie for those who like to see personal relationships with dogs motivate the union. It touches on the theory of how dogs look like their owners. The film is worth seeing because it’s filled with vignettes of owners and their dogs. The story meanders as the characters intermingle, and romance ensues.
Here is a cute story for the whole family.
8. A Dog’s Way Home (2019)
Charles Martin Smith directed this happy tale based on the book by W. Bruce Cameron,A Dog’s Way Home. The heartfelt story is as sensitive and genuine as Bella, voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard, and her adventure—a dog embarked on a 400-mile journey home after being separated from her deeply loved human, played by Jonah Hauer-King.
Bailey, voiced by Josh Gad, also voiced Olaf in the “Frozen” movies.
9. A Dog’s Journey (2019)
Director Gail Mancuso creates a film about friendships that transcend lifetimes. A Dog’s Journey, the sequel to the popular movie A Dog’s Purpose, followsBailey. He finds his new fate and develops a permanent bond, driven by unconditional love and friendships. Thus begins an adventure through multiple lives filled with joy, friendship, and devotion.
During an interview with Mancuso, she mentioned that all talent and crew had dogs, except the editor, Robert Komatsu.
The movie stars Willem Dafoe as a man racing against time and the elements.
10. Togo (2019)
Ericson Core was formerly a cinematographer but directed the Disney movie, based on a true story and adapted from the screenplay by Tom Flynn. Togo follows a sled dog. In 1925, Togo led a serum run. People viewed the dog as too small and weak to pull a dog sled during an emergency race to save the lives of children.
The movie helped me become appreciative and happy about life. I loved seeing an underdog prove its worth.
Arthur is an intelligent dog who helps a man achieve his ultimate adventure.
11. Arthur the King (2024)
A true story about a dog who guides Michael Light, played by Mark Wahlberg, who is desperate for one last chance to win the Adventure Racing World Championship. Over ten days and 435 miles, a bond between a pro adventure racer and a scrappy street dog companion.
Dog Movies for Family
Dog movies are great family movies because the stories are real, even though some dogs play basketball or talk. The story can be distressing, but the tension adds to the movie’s excitement, making the happy ending even more enjoyable.
Most of the time, the dog steals the limelight because they are so cute, cuddly, and innocent, validating the fact that we watch these dog movies over and over again.
Deciding on film school or no film school is a choice that will determine how you plan on developing your film career. If you choose to attend film school, you will need a ton of money. You will need to know how to build working relationships in school. Selecting a film school with dedicated and influential alums would be best. Many blockbuster filmmakers went to film school. Why should you go?
It might make your parents happy, but it puts a big dent in their pocketbook or credit score.
Some say if you’ve got the dough, you might as well go. At least you can cut your teeth by working on films in school and even producing your own as graduation criteria.
Knowledge is power. The more you know about the film business, the better off you will be. But do you need to go to film school to get that knowledge?
Further down the page, there are some questions for you to answer, which will help you decide whether to go to film school or not to go to film school.
Some say it is necessary to go to film school, while others say, “Why not just get a jump-start on your career—learn the ropes as you go?” Many blockbuster filmmakers never went to film school, either. Why should you go?
Cost of Film School
Some say you need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to get a decent education in moviemaking. They are living in the Stone Age. These days, all you need is Internet access to an online film school and the willingness to listen to some good advice. With Fat-Free Film, this type of DIY film school is just a mouse click away.
Independent moviemakers Joel Marshall and Kamala Lopez-Dawson established Fat-Free Film. It is essentially a series of in-depth interviews with members of the moviemaking community. Throughout the episode, interviewees-including Henry Jaglom and Peter Bogdanovich – weigh in on how to make it in the indie film world and provide some choice anecdotes while teaching the fundamentals of filmmaking.
No Film School
You can attend a film school with influential alums to build relationships. There, you can meet students who share your desire to make movies. Writer and director Nicole Holofcener told me in an interview that while in film school in New York, she met her producer for Walking and Talking. The film was her first feature that launched Catherine Keener, Liev Schreiber and Anne Heche’s careers. Holofcener noted that her producer friend was instrumental in getting the film made and into theaters. In the same interview, she told me that film school is an excellent idea if you have the funds.
The cost of film school ranges between $7,000 and $50,000 per semester. It depends on which film school you pick.
You can ignore film school, save money, and work your way up the industry later. I spoke with the owner of Puppet Artist, who works in the film industry. He told me he hires someone who isn’t fresh out of film school. He likes working with people who work hard and are willing to learn the ropes, not act like they know it all because they went to film school.
The list of self-taught directors and producers is endless. Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and Francis Ford Coppola are just a few to name. Each one has their story of how they worked their way into the film industry and became successful.
Going to film school is expensive.
“The beauty of our show is that it reaches places where there are no film schools. Places where our listeners may be the only person in their town or village who has any interest in the art of filmmaking,”— Joe Marshall, Founder of Fat Free Film
Fat-Free Film School
But Fat-Free Film doesn’t focus on the typical interview subjects like actors and directors. The school goes behind the scenes to talk to editors, distributors, costume designers, and many essential members of the film world. Fat-Free Film’s ultimate goal is to create a virtual community for moviemaking.
Marshall notes, “The beauty of our show is that it reaches places where there are no film schools. Places where our listeners may be the only person in their town or village who has any interest in the art of filmmaking,”
Marshall further says, “Trying to break into filmmaking can be a very daunting and isolating experience, and what we are trying to do with Fat-Free Film is reach out to each other, share our stories, help each other and create a network of people with similar interests and goals who can support each other.”
Film school gives you confidence, but it doesn’t mean you’ll succeed.
James Cameron Skipped Film School
Before he entered the film industry, James Cameron was a machinist and truck driver. His first job in the film industry was as a model maker on a film produced by the notorious low-budget film producer Roger Corman’s New World Pictures in 1979.
Cameron recalled the job to Paula Parisi of the Hollywood Reporter in 1995. He talked about the miniature work going well, and the live-action set work, too. Director Jimmy Murakami was having trouble figuring out how to combine the two elements. Cameron convinced him to apply the little-used front projection technique as the solution, and he was the man for the job. The Cameron knighted supervisor of process projection, and four weeks later, they fired the art director and asked Cameron to take the position.
Before he was ever on a film set, Cameron studied that technique in the USC film school library. He taught himself how to make movies, and he could see an opportunity knock while on the set.
Cameron’s next project was as co-supervisor of visual effects for John Carpenter’s 1981 film Escape From New York. Cameron’s work on the film mainly consisted of supervising model making and process photography. Once that project finished, Cameron moved right on to his next project, Galaxy of Terror, also released in ’81. On that production, he designed the sets, miniatures, costumes, and second-unit direction.
Talented newcomers worked for Corman and went on to succeed as filmmakers.
Best Film School is Experience
Cameron’s first shot at the director’s helm was for another independent producer. The association developed out of his tenure at New World, which made Joe Dante’s Piranha in 1978. Corman sold the sequel rights to two Italian producers, who needed a director for this tale of killer fish that take to the air to terrorize a beach of bikini-clad beauties.
Cameron’s luck would have it. In their search, they happened to visit the set of Galaxy of Terror while Cameron was directing a second-unit scene.
As he recounted the event in his career some years later, Cameron recalled that a scene he was directing was of a dismembered arm lying on the ground: “It’s supposed to be covered with maggots … and they’ve got it covered with this tub of mealworms. You can buy them in pet stores; they’re fish food, fairly innocuous little creatures. They’re pretty law-abiding; they don’t do very much…They’re supposed to be writhing around, but they just sat there.”
He formulated a solution to run hidden electrical wires to the slugs and deliver a few “inspirational” jolts. Just then, the two future Piranha II producers strolled onto the set to watch.
Cameron called “Action!” The cue for the technician, who was hidden out of eye range, to throw the juice. “The worms start moving like crazy. I say: ‘OK, that’s good. Cut.’ He pulls the plug, and the worms stop. I turn around, and these two producers are just gaping. I guess they figured out that if I could get a performance out of maggots, I should be OK with actors, so they offered me the film.”
The film industry seeks people who are willing to work hard and do a dedicated job.
Should I Go to Film School?
“Should I go to film school?” is a great question and requires weighing the pros and cons of going. The most significant advantage is networking with other people who want to work in film. The biggest drawback is the cost, with no guarantees of success. You still have to work hard and build your credits.
If you go to film school, give it all you’ve got and don’t waste the expense. If you decide not to go to film school, be prepared to build your film career by working hard and building your film credits.
In all honesty, getting a job in the film industry is not as hard as long as you are willing to work hard and be available to work anytime and anywhere. Once your film career is established, you can pick and choose your projects or create your own projects.
Film Career Success Story
Closing this article is a success story I received from someone who I helped get into the business by reading my book.
“About a year ago, I spoke with you a few times via email. I want to thank you for your invaluable advice.
Thanks to your emails and your book (which I read nearly once a month), I now have a full-time job as a video editor (it’s a great start), was offered a PA position on a feature film, was accepted (1 of 10 students) to the New York Film Academy, and have an extensive list of contacts in the industry.
The best part is that I am only 18 years old. I seriously doubt I could have come this far without your help. Thank you so much.”
Your family wants to watch a good movie, and you need help picking a good family movie. Without spending too much time searching, I found the following movies streaming on either Netflix or Amazon.
Early Man
Incredibles 2
Five Fingers of Marseilles
Christopher Robin
A Quiet Place
Disney’s Earth
Alvin and the Chipmunks
VeggieTales Takes a Look at a Meaningful Life
Dolphin Tale
The Sandlot
Lady Bird
Logan
Kull: Skull Island
Boss Baby
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – The Long Haul
Little Italy
If you liked “Chicken Run” and “Wallace & Gromit,” you’ll like “Early Man.”
1. “Early Man”
Early Man brings laughter to the household because the movie is cute and filled with fun and likable characters. Dug, voiced by Eddie Redmayne, is a prehistoric caveman with goofy friends. The situation is hilarious, where the invaders are challenged to a game of soccer because Dug and his tribe need to win back their home.
The movie will capture your family’s attention because the kids relate to the innocence of the idiots, and adults will find the story funny. The undertone of humor in the situations makes parents chuckle. The claymation takes the story to a whole new level of brilliance.
“Incredibles 2” is just as good as “Incredibles” because Brad Bird directed both.
2. “Incredibles 2”
Incredibles 2 is an ideal family movie because it is about a family of superheroes. Other superheroes are also enthralling to see how the family adjusts to being superheroes when mom, Elastic Girl, leaves the family at home with dad in charge. Jack-Jack’s superhero powers are totally out of this world. Brad Bird wrote and directed the movie. His screenplay flies along with tight dialogue and plenty of funny moments. I strongly recommend this movie for family movie night because it is pure entertainment and will satisfy all ages.
If you want to watch back-to-back movies, I strongly recommend the prequel, Incredibles. Again, Brad Bird directs a funny and action-packed film for the whole family.
My library includes both movies because, on family movie night, we all agree to watch Incredibles. I loaned the Blu-ray to friends who haven’t seen it yet. When they return it, they profusely thank me as we discuss our favorite scenes.
Any scene with Edna is my favorite. She is such a funny and quirky character. In Incredibles 2, she goes way out and befriends Jack-Jack.
All the voice actors’ return in Incredibles 2 shows how capable Bird is as a director. Pixar will not fail you because the voice actors create delightful characters.
Finding a well-made Western is pure joy.
3. “Five Fingers of Marseilles”
Five Fingers of Marseilles is a western set before and after Apartheid in South Africa. The inhabitants of Marseilles are under the oppression of a corrupt police force, and Five Fingers is a group of rebels that stands up to it.
Tau executes two police officers, and he flees the town. The Five Fingers breaks up, and Tau chooses a life of crime and gets arrested.
Two decades later, he is discharged from prison as the dreaded outlaw known as The Lion of Marseilles.
He returns home wanting comfort and reconnection with those he had disregarded. Tau is entangled in another injustice and rebuilds the Five Fingers. Together they fight for justice.
Scripted by Sean Drummond, the story is believable and moves along quickly. Directed by Michael Matthews, the movie is in English with subtitles.
It’s a unique story about growing up, but not too seriously.
4. “Christopher Robin”
Winnie the Pooh, along with his best friends of the Hundred Acre Wood, leaves home for the big city to help Christopher Robin, who is now a father and in the workforce, become the loving and playful boy he used to be.
The journey is delightful, with silly Pooh and friends trying so hard to help Christopher. The movie will capture your heart.
Directed by her husband, Emily Blunt is so believable in “A Quiet Place.”
5. “A Quiet Place”
A Quiet Place trailer is an intense and scary movie. The story follows a family who must be quiet. Directed by John Krasinski, the supernatural thriller stars Krasinski and his wife, Emily Blunt. The film is enthralling and made so much money that the studio is producing a sequel.
Disneynature opens the world of nature to kids of all ages.
6. Disneynature’s “Earth “
Disneynature celebrates each Earth Day with the release of a documentary celebrating Earth, the environment, and animals. The first of the series was Earth, released in 2009. The movie set a documentary opening-day record, grossing $4 million from 1,804 theaters.
The concessions person explained that the movie theater had four loaded school buses for the 10:00 am showing. He talked about the kids swamping concessions with orders of sixty kids’ treat packages. Disney conducted an all-out campaign to encourage schools and families to attend the Earth Day opening, a wise move on their part.
Three Animals Tell the Story
In the movie Earth, we are introduced to a mother polar bear and her two cubs as we first catch sight of their snouts peeking out from their winter den. The movie charts several other animals, but the documentary focuses primarily on these three animals to tell the story of Earth: the polar bears, humpback whales, and African elephants. It is by far an epic film, giving the attention this endangered planet deserves.
Any movie night can become your own special Earth Day by watching a Disneynature film or one of the older Disney films about nature called True Life Adventures. Adventure movies focus on wildlife, and an Oscar-winning series initiated by Walt Disney himself. He truly loved wildlife and saw the importance of conveying the message to keep your planet sustainable. Once your family views a Disneynature documentary, you can discuss the need to change our living habits and help preserve our planet Earth, and the importance of keeping it intact for many generations to come.
7. “Alvin and the Chipmunks”
Alvin and the Chipmunks were super popular in the late 1950s and then returned in 2007 as computer-generated images, known as CGI. The three little rascals look more real than ever now. Like the movie poster says, “Things are going to get messy.”
JETT Records executive Ian Hawke, a former college roommate, rejected his most recent song. To make the story even more interesting, Dave had, at one time, a relationship with Claire Wilson, his next-door neighbor.
Favorite Scene
Alvin and his two buddies sing “Only You And You Alone.” Dave realizes he discovered three diamonds in the rough.
The movie takes off, and the Chipmunks sing the songs he writes, and he keeps them fed and sheltered. The singing and montages in the film are brilliant. Jason Lee does a fantastic job of playing off the little CGI animals.
One of my favorite scenes is when Theodore wakes up in the middle of the night, scared from a nightmare. Dave helps him feel safe by letting him sleep in his bed. Very cute; any parent or child will relate to this scene, later revisited with Uncle Ian in a rather poignant scene.
Little Rascals
But the chipmunks, being little rascals, cause some problems for Dave. But they are so adorable you can’t help but laugh, which makes this an ideal family movie. A cute scene is when Alvin tries to create the mood for Dave’s reunion dinner with Claire. The dinner becomes odd. She bails on Dave when he confesses, “My life is being sabotaged by talking chipmunks.”
Alvin and the Chipmunks want to make up for the blunder, so they record a song and get a record deal with Ian Hawke. Now, Alvin and the Chipmunks are more famous than the Jonas Brothers. The little animals are working so hard to keep up with the demand. Dave worries about them and tries to get control over the situation. With missed opportunities and Hawke’s underhanded scheme to steal the chipmunks, Dave lets them go. Hawke tells the chipmunks to call him Uncle Ian. He wants to make money off them without their well-being in mind. The little guys are overworked. They miss Dave, and Dave misses them.
Family Can Watch Together
Directed by Tim Hill, the movie is fun for anyone, but it’s one the family can watch together without worrying that parents will get bored or that jokes will go over the kids’ heads. The talented cast and voice actors make the movie. Some of the cast members are Jane Lynch from Glee, Justin Long as Alvin, Matthew Gray Gubler as Simon, Jesse McCartney as Theodore, David Cross as Ian Hawke, and Jason Lee as Dave.
Behind-the-Scenes
The Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD has a behind-the-scenes featurette detailing how they created the chipmunks’ singing. It is well worth the look, and you will discover the real singers of the movie.
VeggieTales are pure magic for the little ones.
8. “VeggieTales Takes a Look at a Meaningful Life”
The VeggieTales, in general, are great family movies because they are light and fluffy. The jokes are clean, and the situations are hilarious. Sure, the tales bring in the Christian faith, so what? They are fun, and kids and parents have a good time watching the veggie characters interact with each other without legs or arms, yet they still move things around in the air as if they have extremities.
They carry books and a football. The veggies don’t walk with legs. They bounce to and fro because they are vegetables.
One such VeggieTales movie that went directly to DVD is It’s a Meaningful Life – A Lesson in Being Content. The story is somewhat like Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life. The classic movie follows a sad businessman as he reflects on how his life has turned out, and he wishes he had never been born. An angel guides him to the right path by showing how important his life is. The movie boasts James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, and Donna Reed.
Would Life Be Better?
The VeggieTales character Larry the Cucumber plays Stewart, who loves playing football and wants to play in the Salad Bowl. He wants to be famous for all the fortune that goes with fame. But he gets injured in a game, and his dream ends. Many years later, silly-but-sweet Stewart cares for his family and friends. He loves his job at the toy train factory.
He ponders what he would be if he weren’t injured, had become a famous football star, and had made lots of money. Would life be better? He changes the past to show Steward what it would be like if it had happened the way he wanted. A moral is learned through Christian teachings, and Stewart learns a lesson about life.
Multi-Grammy Winner – Steven Curtis Chapman
What the movie is really about is the song “Meant to Be,” produced by Steven Curtis Chapman, a multi-Grammy winner as well as a Dove Award winner. Of course, It’s a Meaningful Life has the traditional new silly song called “Goodnight Junior.”
You can even visit the VeggieTales website and download some excellent activities from the movie for kids and parents to do together. The DVD includes cool family bonus features, such as sing-along songs, interviews, audio commentary, and the Meaningful Family Life Guide.
9. “Dolphin Tale”
Dolphin Tale is a true story that follows a teenage boy, Sawyer, played by Nathan Gamble. Sawyer meets his best friend, a dolphin, washed up on Clearwater Beach in Florida. Dolphin is named Winter, who loses her tail after being snagged in a crab trap. He decides to take responsibility for Winter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and his life changes.
The dolphin plays herself in the movie, making it realistic for families to watch. The Blu-ray/DVD offers several perspectives on the dolphin’s story. The featurettes are entertaining but educational at the same time.
Sawyer helps find a prosthetic expert to fit Winter with a prosthetic fin—a fantastic and unbelievable feat – never been done before. I encourage families to watch this movie together because it is one of the best family movies I have ever seen. The film will tug at your heartstrings, featuring a talented cast including Morgan Freeman, Ashly Judd, and Harry Connick Jr.
10. “The Sandlot”
The Sandlotis a movie everyone in the family can enjoy because its story has both tension and apprehension, making it a film kids can watch with their parents. The film is about kids growing up in the 1960s, when kids could play on the streets and have more freedom. They didn’t need permission to go places or to stay in touch with their parents. They just played and had fun all day.
Scotty, a new kid in the neighborhood, tries to make friends with the kids who play baseball on the sandlot. It’s hard at first, but the boys come around, and the adventure begins. Scotty learns to play baseball as the story follows him and his buddies on an adventurous summer quest to retrieve a baseball with a Babe Ruth autograph. The movie entertains audiences of all ages, featuring some of the wildest moments, scary situations, and a first kiss. All nine boys grew up that summer and became best friends. The film is enchanting and a fun comedy.
Director Greta Gerwig is from my hometown.
11. “Lady Bird”
The movie is not only filmed in my hometown but also about it. I marvel at the phenomenon of connection. That’s the feeling I have toward Lady Bird because it’s set in my hometown.
Greta Gerwig’s movie follows a teenage girl, played by Saoirse Ronan, who calls herself “Lady Bird” and goes to a Catholic school similar to Gerwig’s High School.
The story is charming, no matter where you live, because it is about being a teenager with a prominent dream to go to college and be away from home.
She tries to be who she really is while contending with the crazy life of high school and her relationship with her mother.
And, Lady Bird received esteem at festivals, from the public, and the industry.
12. “Logan”
Hugh Jackman stars under the direction of James Mangold. Mangold’s notable credits include Walk the Line, which he co-wrote; The Wolverine;Girl, Interrupted;Cop Land;Knight and Day;Ford v. Ferrari; and 3:10 to Yuma.
An operation run by the government turns mutant kids into killers. Logan begins mentoring a mutant girl with two claws rather than his three. The movie is dark and gets more serious, but laughs and merriment appear toward the end.
A Harry Potter alumnus, Tom Felton, looks mighty mean, suntanned, and ready to be the wicked, bad guy.
13. “Kong: Skull Island”
Being promoted as a reimagining of the beginning of the mythic Kong, an exciting, creative venture, I acknowledge that remakes are not original. Yet, the movie is supposedly original, so don’t name it Kong.
The movie follows a diverse group brought together to research an uncharted island in the Pacific. The island is stunning, but dangerous. The group adventures into a strange and unfamiliar island, and they are unaware of exploring the realm of the mythic Kong.
14. “The Boss Baby”
The Boss Baby is a hilarious movie that the family is sure to like. The impact of a new baby’s arrival is told from a delightfully unpredictable narrator, a heatedly creative 7-year-old named Tim.
The voice of Alec Baldwin dons a suit and speaks in a sly, animated way. The movie’s heart-filled message about the meaning of family should appeal to the whole family.
15. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid – The Long Haul”
The last Wimpy Kid movie has a new cast, and it looks entertaining, although a road trip? I could be amusing. Watch the trailer, and you might see some familiar faces from the earlier movies.
Hayden Christensen played young Darth Vader.
16. “Little Italy”
Little Italy focuses on two childhood friends, Leo (Hayden Christensen) and Nikki (Emma Roberts). The movie is directed by Donald Petrie, who brought us Miss Congeniality, starring Sandra Bullock.
As in a classic story, Leo and Nikki become attracted to each other when they are adults. Their parents’ own contentious pizzerias put a bite on their passionate romance. If you are familiar with the story, this particular one is not a tragedy. Some classic stories end unhappily, but this romantic comedy is safe for a blossoming romance.
Streaming Movies are Rewarding
Watching a good movie with the family can be rewarding on many levels. They are upbeat, funny, and honorable. Whether you rent them on Netflix, Amazon, or cable, the stories share a message that the whole audience can relate to, refreshingly.
Brad Pitt stood alongside the supporters of rebuilding after the hurricane.
Helping People of New Orleans
Brad Pitt initiated a housing project in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans following the devastating Hurricane Katrina. Pitt’s pet project, “Make It Right Foundation,” is an example of helping families rebuild their homes.
Celebrity home designer and “Holmes on Homes” TV personality Mike Holmes worked with Pitt on the project. Holmes promotes green living, so working with Pitt and Make It Right was perfect for both.
Although years have passed, the project remains, and the foundation is no longer as prominent as it was during the construction of the homes. The results are as endearing and heartfelt today as when the people were still recovering from Katrina.
Although some people he helped are biting the hand that feeds him, his program remains as strong as ever.
Pitt Talks with Ellen About His Foundation
“I’ll tell you, every time I drive over the Claiborne bridge, no matter what frustration I might be dealing with at the moment, I get this well of pride when I see this little oasis of color and the solar panels.”— Brad Pitt, Country Living Magazine.
Pitt designed and built homes like this one for the devastated area.
Building Homes
Holmes and Pitt agreed on building homes that would not burn down, be blown down, or go down under any circumstances. The Once Upon a Time… in Hollywoodstar indicated that building such a home is not that difficult.
Following the devastation caused by Katrina in New Orleans in August 2005, building homes that take into account environmental conditions is a blessing. New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward experienced devastation and ruin when the levees broke during Hurricane Katrina.
“Make It Right Foundation” joined Holmes in building homes to withstand a catastrophe like Katrina, thereby rebuilding the area devastated by the hurricane.
The rebuilding of New Orleans, Lower Ninth Ward, included homes like this one.
Brad Pitt Builds 150 Homes
Pitt and Holmes built 150 homes, each designed to prevent future catastrophes. To some, that may seem impossible, but they achieved it to raise the homes three feet above ground level. They withstand the possibility of being blown down by a hurricane.
Looking at the homes in the pictures, you can see how they stand on the ground, stronger and rooted.
Pitt and Holmes designed 150 homes like this one for the homeless people after Katrina in the summer of 2005.
Solar Panels
Of course, solar panels play a significant part in the project, and other environmentally friendly factors include homes capturing rainwater for reuse in gardening and toilets.
Another designed home orchestrated by Pitt and Holmes.
No Longer Worried or Stressed
The locals appreciate rebuilding their homes, knowing they will withstand environmental catastrophes, and acknowledging that such incidents have historically occurred. The worry and stress caused by the possibility of losing their homes during the next hurricane no longer exist.
In New Orleans, Pitt and Holmes set positive examples for others to follow, providing hope and a brighter future for the region.
Make It Right Helps the Unfortunate
Today, the “Make It Right Foundation” believes that everyone has the right to live in a high-quality, healthy home that enhances the natural environment. Sadly, some are less fortunate and need assistance to get started and build a stable home.
The organization assists those in need. They believe the program fully engages the communities in defining their own needs and has a leading role in designing appropriate ways to meet those needs.
The foundation supports any design that can help improve the quality of affordable housing and enhance other living conditions of its occupants. The results are playing a pivotal role in creating vibrant, sustainable communities. The purpose is to build safe homes and help people around the world live in healthy cities. The fact that it offers affordable, high-quality, and environmentally sustainable homes is all the better.
Cradle to Cradle Homes
One of the programs the foundation supports is “Cradle to Cradle Homes.” The program is still unique, but hopefully, that will change, and it will become more widespread.
Architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart apply specific criteria to develop communities. They use materials that are both biological and technically safe, renewable, and focused on social fairness and human dignity.
Hollywood entertained the idea of drinking alcoholic drinks during prohibition. | Source
Cocktails in Film
Celebrating special times is what we care about the most. When something comes up faster than we care to acknowledge, movies or books like Water for Elephants capture yesteryear spirits and today.
The movies overflow with retro radiance and fascination. In Water for Elephants, Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon bring us back to the days of speakeasies and unforbidden love.
Enthralled like an interloper, you witness the scene where August and Marlena invite Jacob for an evening of cocktails and elegance. The undercurrents portray the movie sequence as relatively private and intimate because of the prohibition. The scene captures the essence of the glamour of the 1930s and the spirit of sharing a moment of entertainment.
Other Hollywood films have captured the same ambiance of the prohibition era. You might be familiar with them as well. Let’s explore the glamour of cocktails in prohibition-era films like Some Like It Hot, The Untouchables, and The Roaring Twenties, with drinks including the Deauville, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, and Hurricane.
“Why the hell shouldn’t I run away with the circus?”— Sara Gruen
Whiskey Sour
One of my favorite scenes in The Roaring Twenties is when naïve Eddie (James Cagney) orders milk at a speakeasy. A counterpart would have ordered the classic Whiskey Sour. The Whiskey Sour has been around since the late 1800s and remains popular even today. If you’re so inclined, you can add a dash of egg white to the mix to turn it into a Boston Sour.
· 45ml Bourbon whiskey
· 30ml fresh lemon juice
· 15ml Gomme syrup
· Orange slice (garnish)
· Maraschino cherry (garnish)
Pour whiskey, lemon juice, and Gomme syrup into a shaker with ice. Shake well, and then strain into an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and an orange slice, and serve on the rocks.
“I think you’re a pretty decent guy. I like to talk to decent guys. They’re hard to find.”— Panama Smith in “The Roaring Twenties”
Manhattan
In one of my favorite Billy Wilder films, Some Like It Hot, Marilyn Monroe’s character, Sugar Cane, makes Manhattans in a hot water bottle. She’s so natural in the scene. I can’t help but believe it. Luckily, we have cocktail shakers and swizzle sticks, so we don’t need the hot water bottle.
· 50ml whiskey
· 20ml sweet red vermouth
· Dash Angostura bitters
· Maraschino cherry (garnish)
Stir whiskey, vermouth, and bitters over ice and then pour strained into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Some Like It Hot
“It’s the story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop.”— Sugar in “Some Like Hot”
The Deauville
There are no movies set in Deauville. Created in New Orleans in the 1930s, The Deauville is a classic brandy sour with a colorful fruit bouquet served straight up.
· 25ml brandy
· 25ml applejack or Calvados
· 25ml triple sec
· 25ml fresh lemon juice
Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake well, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
What Would You Like to Drink?
Gin Fizz
Brian De Palma captured the prohibition era and the mafia’s heyday brilliantly as we watch Al Capone (Robert De Niro) and some of his cohorts in The Untouchables. I am sure the mob might have thrown back a Gin Fizz or two. The best known of all the “Fizz” type cocktails, this still-popular creation has been a hit since the 20th century.
· 50ml gin
· Juice of half a lemon
· 10ml Gomme syrup
· Soda water
Pour gin, lemon juice, and Gomme syrup over ice and shake—strain into a highball glass and top with soda water. Serve on the rocks.
“People are gonna drink – you know that I know that, we all know that, and all I do is act on that. And all this talk of bootlegging – what is bootlegging? On a boat, it’s bootlegging. On Lake Shore Drive, it’s hospitality. I’m a businessman!”— Alphonse Capone, “The Untouchables”
Hurricane
No movie refers to the Hurricane, which is a New Orleans staple. The Hurricane originated as a way to dispose of unsold rum in the 1930s and 1940s. Eventually, the cocktail became popular with sailors and remains a bestseller in the French Quarter today.
· 15ml dark rum
· 15ml white rum
· Passion fruit syrup
· Lime juice
Shake the ingredients with ice, then pour into a cocktail or tulip-shaped glass. Serve on the rocks.
“In the spring of 1988, I returned to New Orleans, and as soon as I smelled the air, I knew I was home. It was rich, almost sweet, like the scent of jasmine and roses around our old courtyard. I walked the streets, savoring that long lost perfume.”— Anne Rice, “Interview with the Vampire”
Cocktail Party
For any special occasion, you might want to contemplate throwing a Prohibition Party. If not for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you might want to consider New Year’s Eve. You can throw one at any time of the year.
You have the recipes, and all you have to do is get the ingredients and shake or stir them into cocktails.
The making of The Help has a backstory about two friends who helped each other break into two competitive fields: publishing and filmmaking.
Director and screenwriter Tate Taylor and author Kathryn Stockett were childhood friends in the 1970s. They grew up together in Mississippi. Their friendship lasted into adulthood when they collaborated on a book and movie about social standing in the 1960s South – The Help.
Friend Helping a Friend
Stockett took five years to write the novel and over 60 rejections from literary agents. Then, she approached Taylor with her dilemma of not getting published. Being a close friend, Taylor was sympathetic and decided to read her manuscript. He was “blown away” and emotionally moved by the story’s truth because he grew up in the same southern culture as Stockett.
Taylor supported Stockett, saying that her manuscript was fantastic and that she shouldn’t give up. He promised he’d make it into a movie if it didn’t get published.
Black Versus White America
The story concerns unlikely women coming together to make a change in Mississippi in 1963. One woman is a writer researching Black women raising children in White households. The black woman and the writer become friends as they try to change the terrible conditions of black women working for white families in Mississippi.
Taylor and Stockett were both raised by single mothers who worked full-time. Like the women in the story, they needed help raising their children. Taylor and Stockett called these women who helped them grow into adulthood “co-mothers.”
Great Interview
“I didn’t think so, honey. Every day you’re not dead in the ground, when you wake up in the morning, you’re gonna have to make some decisions. Got to ask yourself this question: ‘Am I gonna believe all them bad things them fools say about me today?’ You hear me? ‘Am I gonna believe all them bad things them fools say about me today?’ You hear me today? All right? As for your mama, she didn’t pick her life. It picked her. But you, you’re gonna do something big with yours. You wait and see.”— Constantine Jefferson in the movie.
Promise Pays Off
So, Stockett’s career took off with her bestseller, and Taylor wrote the adaptation for the silver screen and directed it with a great cast.
The Help was published and became an ultimate bestseller. But Taylor remembered the story because of its authenticity. It continued to resonate with him from the moment he opened the book. He thought the story reflected his childhood friendship with Stockett, even though their lives differed from those of the characters.
Their story offers a solution for those who want to break into writing or filmmaking, reminding them of their childhood friends as sources of inspiration or help. Either way, collaborating on a project with a childhood friend is a rewarding way to keep the friendship growing and lasting forever.
Having friends who help you is meaningful and gives value to life. The story of Stockett and Taylor assisting each other and working their way to success in their chosen careers tells us who they are as individuals.
Tate Taylor and author Kathryn Stockett were childhood friends.
Strange Friendships
Tate Taylor continues writing and directing. He directed the movie MA, which starred Juliette Lewis, Octavia Spencer, and Luke Evans. Taylor and Blumhouse produced the film. It is a psychological horror-thriller about a lonely woman who becomes friends with a group of teenagers and allows them to party at her house.
The teenagers think they’ve got it made, partying like adults. The woman begins acting strangely in a horrific way, and it turns out she is not as friendly as they thought. Octavia and Tate were roommates before their careers flourished.
Roommates
In a couple of interviews with MA producers, they reveal that Taylor is one of the kindest directors and makes friends with everyone. Taylor and Spencer were roommates for seven years. It turns out they are the best of friends. Because they were roommates and friends, he knew Spencer would want to play Ma’s role because she loves true crime stories.
Again, friendship in the film business helps build careers. Keep that in mind as you develop your film career—create relationships.
Tax incentives are one of the best ways to fund your film. | Source
Incentives are a big deal in the film industry, and every so often, you can fund your movie based on incentives. The media hypes it by reporting a government incentive for film production in a country or state.
With all this valid hype, a filmmaker needs to know everything and anything about incentives. If he doesn’t have the time or skill to learn about the subject, the filmmaker needs to find someone who can learn about it or has taken the time to understand incentive programs. Let’s examine the incentives and see what makes these offers so appealing.
Film Industry Tax Incentives
First, an incentive is a payment, reduction, or discount that stimulates greater production or investment. Types of incentives relating to the film industry include, but are not limited to, state and international governments, bankers, incentive specialists, CPAs, attorneys, film commissions, consultants, payroll companies, studio and network producers, and executives. Each role discusses incentives with questions like: “How much will the bank loan me on the expected rebate or tax credit?” “How much money can I save by shooting in that city or state?”
Incentives range from 5% to 30%. | Source
Trade publications devote endless coverage to which states and countries offer incentives, and a filmmaker will read something like: “Incentive: 20%, plus 10% for below-the-line local labor. Minimally spend $200,000, “Incentive: 20% (25% for indie films), plus 5% for itemized expenditures. Spend: $1 million,” and “Incentive: 25% (30% for local cast and crew), plus 5% for United States veterans. Spend $50,000.” What does this all mean?
The above specialists are sharp and know how to analyze complex legislation regarding incentives in the film industry. It takes a CPA’s education to understand complex tax issues.
The lobbyist works with legislators to negotiate with state officials and draft legislation for the film industry. They develop financial circumstances that are important to studios, networks, and producers for filming in a specific location. All these experts are invaluable in determining, calculating, and presenting the breadth of incentive programs, enabling filmmakers to decide where to shoot their projects.
Filmmakers consider a multitude of factors when choosing the perfect location for filming, making it a crucial decision. Sometimes the filmmaker wants to stay close to home. Perhaps he is looking for a specific style, location, or city. It is often about the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for production to go smoothly. The availability of many incentive programs in the U.S. and internationally is a significant factor in determining a location.
Incentive Programs and Runaway Productions
When film incentives were new to the industry, the formulation of runaway productions started in the 1990s. Productions left, particularly those in Los Angeles, and headed to other countries, mainly Canada, so producers intelligently secured favorable exchange rates, reducing production costs by as much as 25%. As a result, the U.S. lost a significant number of film jobs and suffered economic harm.
Finally, the regulators created a solution known as the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, specifically Sections 181 and 199 of the Internal Revenue Code. Immediate 100% write-off for specific entertainment works.
Investors or production companies can claim a loss of $15 to $20 million when spending funds, regardless of the budget or distribution deal. There are some qualifications to the 2004 Act, but the incentives are very generous, with guidelines and tax forms to be filled out. Section 199 permits investors to subtract 9% of their taxable income from their taxes. That means an investor profits $1,000 and must only pay taxes based on $910.
Research and develop tangible financing incentives for your film. | Source
Do Your Homework
Although this sounds like a great incentive, some are not so quick to agree. Each filmmaker, investor, or executive producer should consult with experts or conduct thorough research. Together, they determine if earning these enticements is worth all the time and paperwork. There have been many changes in the U.S. since 2004, with the September 9th attacks, stronger LGBT and minority rights. Producers and studios are increasingly inclined to shoot their projects in the U.S., with the added benefit that roughly 40 states now offer worthwhile incentive packages. A filmmaker has no reason to leave the U.S. Add to that the intention to increase film production, stimulate local economies, create jobs, and promote tourism, and these incentive programs are promising.
What is a Runaway Production?
Now, the term “runaway productions” has a whole new meaning. It is not just about keeping film production in the U.S., but also about keeping it in one’s city, county, or state. For example, the Afghanistan-set war movie Lone Survivor saved $4.5 million on its approximately $40 million budget by shooting in New Mexico. The state offers tax credits of 25 to 30 percent, surpassing California’s complex incentive programs.
Georgia and Louisiana offer tax breaks for local film production, attracting major Hollywood productions from California. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Django Unchained, and Flight capitalized on the incentives. The examples of incentives are endless, and the only way a filmmaker can take advantage of these incentives is to hire a consultant or do their homework.
Example of a Tax Incentive Program
As mentioned, incentive programs vary in size, quality, and atmosphere. They include, but are not limited to, tax credits, upfront and back-end production funding, and cash rebates. Exemptions and waivers are incentives that include hotel occupancy taxes (based on a limited time), Goods & Services Tax, Value-Added Tax, and Use Tax. It becomes overwhelming when the location fee is waived for filming on state lands. There is even on-the-job training or filming in low-income areas or non-tourist times of the year, like winter. A filmmaker might even find basic physical and organizational structures and facilities credits, allowing the state to bring jobs to their area.
Gain a complete understanding of how tax incentives will save production costs. | Source
Regardless of how a filmmaker views these incentives, they vary from country to country, state to state, and local level to local level. They are very unclear, with intricate details. If a filmmaker works through a major studio, there will be an individual who understands the details of the various incentive programs. Film industry payroll companies may not ease the need to understand incentive programs and the associated legislation.
Something to consider when taking on an incentive package is that financial institutions, such as banks, may loan a percentage of the money the filmmaker plans to receive from the package. Tax credits or rebates can offset the loan. For independent filmmakers, the bank offers loans against incentive packages if the project is bonded.
Now, you are sold on checking out your options for closing an incentive package.
Here are some ideal contacts or resources to consider:
First and foremost, contact the Film Commission. The federal and state film commission offices are resourceful. Each website has incentive programs, application qualifications, and available resources. Just looking through a couple of quality websites will help filmmakers better understand the effort required to apply for incentives. Call the office and speak with a representative, as they want your production company to visit their area and will take the time to answer all your questions. Contact the local visitor or tourism bureau if you are looking for support at a more local level, such as the city or county, and there is no film commission office. Usually, each bureau has a representative for film production or can direct you in the right direction.
Access tax incentive information from the film commission websites. | Source
To stay informed about the latest statutes, guidelines, and regulations, contact your local legislative representative. Each representative has staff at the regional offices to handle any inquiries from their constituents. They are there to help you.
Contact the Film Commission office to determine who to contact at the State’s Department of Revenue or Department of Economic Development regarding film production incentive programs.
You can even network within your community of filmmakers who have filmed there by asking them for contacts or information regarding incentive packages.
However, realize that this field of expertise has its own system and terminology. You must do your homework even if you are passionate about your movie. If you are uninformed, they will easily recognize you as a novice and might not be willing to help.
So, doing your homework means you know what you are asking and can have coherent conversations with these professionals. That way, they know you are serious and a professional.
Questions to Ask the Film Commission Office
Would my production company need a central office in a specific jurisdiction?
Do I need to register the production company in a particular jurisdiction to conduct business?
What local taxes would affect the production, cast, or crew?
What are the costs for filing fees and audits?
Does the state have a gross receipts tax?
Which expenditures meet the requirements for tax credits or rebates? Prompt the question with expenses such as rentals, general purchases, shipping, airfare, fringe benefits, and box rentals, among others.
Does the production company have to purchase from local or state vendors? If they are not available, what is the alternative? Can I approach third parties to act as brokers and bill for equipment or materials furnished by out-of-town vendors, provided the local area or state uses the equipment and materials?
Do the extras and crew have to be paid by a local payroll company to qualify for a tax credit or rebate?
What are the tax credits and labor rebates for local and nonresident labor? What about our talent who work through their loan-out corporations? Are there guidelines for loan-outs? Will their corporations be required to pay withholding taxes to the state? Should they register with the state?
Does a certain percentage of filming need to be done in the jurisdiction?
What are the responsibilities of our payroll company?
How long was the incentive program voted in for, and when will it be up for legislative review? Proper terminology is “When is its sunset date?” In other words, when are the benefits no longer available? Would my project meet the eligibility criteria before the incentive program expires?
What percentage of filming has to be done in the jurisdiction?
Would I have to hire a CPA from that state to perform an audit?
Does the state have unlimited funds for tax credits and rebates, or is there a finite fund from which the state draws when releasing incentives?
What is the maximum limit on how much my production can claim on the project, any one employee, in any year?
How long will it take for me to get my tax credit or rebate?
Does your state offer a transferable tax credit that I might sell? What is the going rate for tax credits in your state? Are the companies willing to buy or broker my tax credits?
Once my production company receives a transferable tax credit, can we sell it immediately, or is there a grace period?
Does the state work on a calendar year? The idea behind this question is that you need to know: Would the incentives still be valid if your production ran over into the next year?
If your production company had reshoots after you already filed, would your company still be eligible for the incentives when we return to the state?
What is the requirement for the number of local crew members we must hire?
Is there a cultural test to pass? This is common in other countries, such as the British Film Certification.
Would my production be required to provide this county or state with a screen credit or display their logo in our end crawl?
Go through the questions and tax incentives to help fund your movie. | Source
For more information and details on different incentive programs, read The Essential Guide to U.S. & International Production Incentives, a helpful book edited by Joseph Chianese and Barbara Rosenfeld. The book explains the following incentives.
1. Film Production Rebate
A cash rebate is the funds paid to the production company based on the number of allowable expenditures or jobs created by the project in the state or country. The production company does not need to file a tax return for rebates and is not subject to the management of local tax authorities. The local film office, which falls under the Department of Trade and Industry, Commerce, or Economic Development, governs them. The government agency that oversees the incentives sets aside the rebates. When production completes shooting in a state and files all qualifying documentation that specifies eligibility for a refund, the tax authorities should process the rebate within 30 to 60 days (some states may process it faster). The production bond allows the use of the rebates as collateral for a loan.
2. Film Refundable Tax Credits
Tax credits differ from rebates in that the local tax authority administers them. There are refundable and nonrefundable tax credits. A refundable tax credit works like a rebate. Yet, the production company must file a tax return, usually by the sanction of the Department of Revenue, to claim it and receive a credit for taxes owed when the production files its income tax return. It is recommended that the filmmaker request a letter from the state’s Department of Revenue certifying that the funds will be available upon the production’s completion. Tax credits can serve as collateral to secure a loan, enabling the production company to obtain an advance from its bank.
3. Film Transferable Tax Credits
These tax credits are nonrefundable, but a production company can sell (transfer) them or assign them to a local taxpayer. Some states present transferable tax credits, which permit production companies to sell or receive a refund for tax credits they cannot use. Often, brokers manage these transactions and charge a commission. In the bargain, the production will need to offer a discount for the face value of the credit. The usual rates are 85-90 cents on the dollar. Each state or country varies in how it standardizes transfers. Some allow one credit to be divided and sold to multiple buyers. Some allow various transfers so the buyer can sell all or part of the credit.
4. Film Nonrefundable, Non-Transferable Tax Credits
Use this tax credit to offset a production company’s existing tax liability, which is primarily carried forward for a set period. If the production company has no existing tax liability, you can use it to lower taxes in the ensuing years. Still, the production company cannot transfer the tax credit to third parties.
5. Film Up-Front or Back-End Funding
Local investors or taxpayers provide the funds for tax advantages from local tax authorities, and are only granted to eligible productions. The filmmaker, investors, and taxpayers should consult with their CPA or attorney to determine if they qualify for the advantages.
The Bottom Line
Remember that incentive packages or programs are not just complicated but endlessly changing. For that reason, a filmmaker needs to be diligent and ask for advice from someone who thoroughly understands these programs. Georgia, Kentucky, and Massachusetts have the best incentives. Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico also offer excellent incentives.
State websites provide filmmakers with details about incentive programs and contact information. Procuring incentives is hard work, but it will be worth the effort to be a successful filmmaker.
