As the year winds down, we’ve been trying to catch up with those creatives whose stories have surprised, entertained or delighted us. In the realm of short films, 2024 featured so many personal endeavors and original tales that shine a light on the human experience. And what more universal story can you ask for, especially this time of year, than a narrative about someone finding their heart thawing? It can be as satisfying for the characters as it is for the audience, and such is the case with Mika Simmons‘ latest directorial effort. In My Week With Maisy, we are introducing to Mrs. Foster (played by Dame Joanna Lumley) as…
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Interview…Director Martin Campbell on ‘Dirty Angels’ and Favorite Action Scenes of His Career
Whenever we enter the holiday season, I tend to think of the many amazing opportunities the site has been offered over the years. It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the release schedule, and I for one am so thankful for experiences on the press tours. And since 2011, we’ve spent time with numerous creative talents talking about their craft on projects big and small. Some are our heroes, others are bucket list gets, some may be totally new territory, but all are welcome. At the very least, they are fun and informative. At best, they have become industry friends with whom we’ve chatted on several…
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Top 10 Christmas Movie Sequels That Are Actually Worth Watching
Editor’s note: This post comes courtesy of an old colleague from our early days blogging the cineweb. Dan Stephens is the founder and editor of Top 10 Films, one of the UK’s longest-running movie sites. From festive fun to heartfelt moments, these Top 10 Christmas Movie Sequels bring holiday magic with humor, nostalgia, and fresh twists. Christmas movies hold a special place in our hearts because they blend the warmth of the holiday spirit with humor, family, and tradition. Whether it’s the joy of seeing our most beloved characters or the thrill of festive adventures, these films create memories we love to revisit year after year. While original Christmas classics…
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Interview…Composer Andrew Lockington on the Inspiration and Sonic Theatricality of the ‘Landman’ Series
Whether it’s a studio action film or an indie festival film, Composer Andrew Lockington‘s music demonstrates his approach to scoring each project in a unique way by finding a musical language to communicate the relationships and elements of the story that visuals cannot. Andrew’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of film scoring has inspired him to record in places such as the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the tropics of Costa Rica, an ancient temple in Northern Japan, a volcano in Polynesia, and an abandoned subway station beneath central London. His recent projects include the epic Sci-Fi feature Atlas starring Jennifer Lopez with longtime collaborator director Brad Peyton, as well as several…
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Interview…Frank Grillo on ‘Werewolves’
Calling all you action junkies. Do you love bombastic films? Do you love running and gunning? How about being afraid of the full moon lest it turn you into a 9-foot tall Lycan hungering for human flesh? Ok, that one may not be for everyone, but the other two should grab your attention. But on that note, we got the rare chance to speak with Frank Grillo about his foray into all of the above-mentioned cinematic buckets. To date, Frank has been in nearly 100 projects. While most of them involve guns, explosions, and tense action scenes, there’s also some high points on his resume that have some real gravitas.…
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Interview…Jasmin Mozaffari on the Real Life Inspiration for ‘Motherland’
Set in 1979, at the height of the Iran Hostage Crisis, writer-director Jasmin Mozaffari’s Motherland follows a young Iranian immigrant (played by Behtash Fazlali) who calls into question his future prospects in America after he embarks on a trip to meet his fiancé’s parents. But that’s just a small aspect of the greater story at hand. Bobak struggles being a foreigner in a post-Vietnam America, and things spiral into heartbreaking situations of xenophobia, isolation, and desperation. Jasmin Mozaffari is an award-winning Iranian-Canadian writer/director, and her eye for detail and framing are exceptional. There’s so much depth, competence and composition to the short, this seems like it was plucked from the…
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Interview…Composer Benoît Charest on ‘Where Rabbits Come From’ and Living the Dream
Writer/director Colin Ludvic Racicot’s animated story immerses viewers in a dystopian world, weaving a heartfelt tale of oppression and the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter. Where Rabbits Come From features stunning animation and a captivating score, as it follows the widowed rabbit seeking to reignite wonder and magic in his daughter’s life after the mysterious disappearance of her mother. Drawing inspiration from Racicot’s personal journey through fatherhood, this heartwarming film has captivated audiences of all ages during its international film festival tour. The Canadian director and writer has crafted tender and imaginative work that united some of the animation world’s most iconic talents. Animation legend Sylvain Chomet and…
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Interview…Composer Wilbert Roget II Brings the Emotion and Excitement to Fan-Favorite Games and Properties
On today’s episode, we take a trip to galaxies far, far away, future Earths and adventures replete with robots and robust action. The visuals are impressive, but it’s the expansive score and sound engineering that really sucks us in. We were thrilled to speak to Wilbert Roget II about his work as composer, multi-instrumentalist, and music geek who, as far as we can tell, is living the dream. Roget has done more that dip his toe in fan-favorite and beloved properties; he’s done a back-flipping cannonball into the worlds of Mortal Kombat, Tomb Raider, Call of Duty and score fans are feeling the waves of his gargantuan splash. Now anyone…
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Interview…Writer/Producer Michael Bickel on ‘Nate & John’
The dream of every creative is to see their idea brought into the world. Yet the process of getting something from starting line to finish line can be anything but a straight shot. Ask an artist, filmmaker, or anyone in entertainment, and they’ll all concur. For a variety of reasons, the process can be drawn out, delayed, very nearly cancelled or worse. But with luck, patience and perseverance, a dream realized is worth all the agony. That brings us to today’s guest. You could say that a fifteen year journey to craft a seven-minute animated short film is a long run for a short slide. But if that was the…
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Interview…Composer Ilan Eshkeri on the Emotional Beauty of ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’
The story of Christopher Reeve is an astonishing rise from unknown actor to iconic movie star, and his definitive portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman set the benchmark for the superhero cinematic universes that dominate cinema today. Reeve portrayed the “Man of Steel” in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, before being injured in a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. After becoming a quadriplegic, he became a charismatic leader and activist in the quest to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, as well as a passionate advocate for disability rights and…
