Sunday, December 31, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at Regal Cinemas...

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! Gettin' ready to watch the new Michael Mann film Ferrari today...

The theatrical poster for FERRARI.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Sunday, December 24, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Wonka today... Happy Christmas Eve, everyone!

A promotional poster for WONKA.

Friday, December 22, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom today!

The theatrical poster for AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM.

Saturday, December 16, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes today!

The theatrical poster for THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

On This Day in 2003: It's the Last Day of Filming for ENVIOUS (Till Early 2004)...

A photo taken on set during Day 3 of filming for ENVIOUS...on December 14, 2003.

It was 20 years ago today that filming continued on Day 3 for my senior thesis film Envious.

Due to rainy weather, this shoot day was cut short...with me having a discussion with my cast and crew afterwards to resume production in late January of the following year (when the Spring 2004 semester began at Cal State Long Beach). Click here for more details.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

On This Day in 2003: Production Continues on ENVIOUS...

A photo of me directing a scene for ENVIOUS during Day 2 of filming...on December 13, 2003.

It was 20 years ago today that Day 2 of filming was held for Envious at Cal State Long Beach!

A screenshot of Harry and Sheena from ENVIOUS...in a scene that was filmed on December 13, 2003.

A screenshot of Teary, Mike, Chris and Elle from ENVIOUS...in a scene that was filmed on December 13, 2003.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

On This Day in 2003: Production Begins on ENVIOUS...

A production still of Elle, Chris and Mike during Day 1 of filming for ENVIOUS...on December 12, 2003.

It was 20 years ago today that filming began on my senior thesis film Envious at my college alma mater, Cal State Long Beach!

To get a (pretty-lengthy) summary on what took place during this shoot—which was originally supposed to last three days—click here.

A production still of Harry during Day 1 of filming for ENVIOUS...on December 12, 2003.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Saturday, December 2, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch the John Woo action flick Silent Night today!

The theatrical poster for SILENT NIGHT.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Monday, November 20, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Next Goal Wins and Steven Spielberg's classic 1998 war epic Saving Private Ryan today!

The theatrical poster for NEXT GOAL WINS.

The theatrical poster for SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Happy Veterans Day to my fellow Yanks! Gettin' ready to watch The Marvels today...

The theatrical poster for THE MARVELS.

Thursday, November 9, 2023

The SAG-AFTRA Strike Is Finally Over!

The 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike has finally come to an end.

Tentative Agreement Reached (News Release - November 8)

Dear SAG-AFTRA Members,

We are thrilled and proud to tell you that today your TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee voted unanimously to approve a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. As of 12:01am on November 9, our strike is officially suspended and all picket locations are closed.

We will be in touch in the coming days with information about celebration gatherings around the country.

In a contract valued at over one billion dollars in new wages and benefit plan funding, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scope that includes "above-pattern" minimum compensation increases, unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation that will protect members from the threat of AI, and for the first time establishes a streaming participation bonus. Our Pension & Health caps have been substantially raised, which will bring much needed value to our plans.

In addition, the deal includes numerous improvements for multiple categories including outsize compensation increases for background performers, and critical contract provisions protecting diverse communities.

We have arrived at a contract that will enable SAG-AFTRA members from every category to build sustainable careers. Many thousands of performers now and into the future will benefit from this work.

Full details of the agreement will not be provided until the tentative agreement is reviewed by the SAG-AFTRA National Board.

We also thank our union siblings -- the workers that power this industry -- for the sacrifices they have made while supporting our strike and that of the Writers Guild of America. We stand together in solidarity and will be there for you when you need us.

Thank you all for your dedication, your commitment and your solidarity throughout this strike. It is because of YOU that these improvements became possible.

In solidarity and gratitude,
Your TV/TH Negotiating Committee

Source: SAG-AFTRA

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Saturday, November 4, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch the 30-year-old Tim Burton classic The Nightmare Before Christmas (for the very first time) today!

The theatrical poster for THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Saturday, October 21, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Killers of the Flower Moon today!

The theatrical poster for KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at the California Science Center...

Gettin' ready to watch 1995's Mystery of the Maya (in IMAX) today!

A poster for MYSTERY OF THE MAYA.

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

One Strike Officially Down, One (Or Will It be Two?) More to Go!

After lasting for 148 days, the latest strike by the Writers Guild of America will officially end at midnight on September 27, 2023.

2023 MBA Tentative Agreement (News Release)

The WGA reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new three-year Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA). On September 26th, the Negotiating Committee, the WGAW Board and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the agreement.

The MBA will now go to both guilds’ memberships for a ratification vote. Eligible voters will be able to vote from October 2nd through October 9th, and will receive ballot and ratification materials when the vote opens.

The WGAW Board and WGAE Council also voted to lift the restraining order and end the strike as of 12:01 am PT/3:01 am ET on Wednesday, September 27th. This allows writers to return to work during the ratification process, but does not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval.

Now that we have finalized the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), we can share details of this exceptional deal, with gains and protections for members in every sector of the business:

MBA 2023 Contract Materials

- Members can read the complete tentative agreement, which is codified in this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

- We are also providing a short Summary of the MOA

- Here is an update of the 2-pager (now a 7-pager) that compares the status of negotiations on May 1st and what we achieved on September 24 after 146 days on strike

- Strike Termination Agreement

Source: WGAContract2023.org

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Sunday, September 24, 2023

One Strike (Unofficially) Down, One More to Go...

A tentative agreement has been made between the WGA and AMPTP to end the writers strike...as of September 24, 2023.

Congrats to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) for striking a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) earlier today!

With the 146-day-long labor dispute by the WGA set to conclude soon, all eyes will be focused on ending the impasse between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and AMPTP next... Stay tuned.

Friday, September 22, 2023

Saturday, September 16, 2023

A Consecutive Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Happy Batman Day! Gettin' ready to once again watch The Dark Knight (which celebrated the 15-year anniversary of its theatrical release two months ago) on the big screen today!

The ticket is only $5 at AMC Theatres through next Wednesday, September 20.

The theatrical poster for THE DARK KNIGHT.

Friday, September 15, 2023

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Sunday, August 27, 2023

A Consecutive Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Happy National Cinema Day! Gettin' ready to watch Gran Turismo (for $4) soon!

The theatrical poster for GRAN TURISMO.

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Thursday, August 17, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at the California Science Center...

Gettin' ready to watch Blue Whales: Return of the Giants (in IMAX 3D) today!

The theatrical poster for BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS.

Sunday, August 13, 2023

A Consecutive Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem today!

The theatrical poster for TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM.

Saturday, August 12, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch The Last Voyage of the Demeter today!

The theatrical poster for THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER.

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Monday, July 31, 2023

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Saturday, July 15, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One today!

The theatrical poster for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE.

Monday, July 10, 2023

An Update on DEADPOOL 3...

Hugh Jackman is donning the classic yellow suit worn by Wolverine in the X-MEN comic books for DEADPOOL 3.

So cool to finally see Hugh Jackman don the classic yellow suit of Wolverine in the second sequel to Deadpool! It's too bad that principal photography for Deadpool 3 will most likely be put on hold by the impending strike by the Screen Actors Guild, along with the continuing strike by the Writer Guild of America...

Carry on.

Saturday, July 1, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny today!

The theatrical poster for INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY.

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Friday, June 16, 2023

Saturday, June 10, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Transformers: Rise of the Beasts today!

The theatrical poster for TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS.

Saturday, June 3, 2023

A Day of Moviegoing at AMC Theatres...

Gettin' ready to watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse today!

The theatrical poster for SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE.

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Friday, May 19, 2023