The New Criterion Channel

Ever since Filmstruck shut down, I’ve been in a bit of a movie funk. Then Criterion announced they will have their own channel, my mood lifted. Recently, I received an email from Criterion notifying of their new channel’s arrival in April 2019. New charter members get free Movie of the Week if they sign up now. So … of course … I signed up!! Excited about all these amazing classic films and extra goodies that will be coming our way. I especially love Director’s Commentaries. This week’s movie is MIKEY & NICKY directed by Elaine May which I’ve never seen before. Can’t wait!

Oxford University Press Bookshop

Finally had a chance to catch-up on editing some footage shot last November in Oxford, England, where I bumped into the lovely, quiet, peaceful Oxford University Press Bookshop, Oxford’s oldest bookstore. Serendipity did its magic once again.

The Oxford vlog:

The Book Lovers Series Ep. 6: Old Fox Books

A lovely bookshop in Annapolis, Maryland is featured in this episode of The Book Lovers Series. Introducing Old Fox Books, a used/new/antiquarian bookshop opened in 2016.

The Book Lovers Series Ep. 5: Foyles in London

Episode 5 of The Book Lovers Series is up! And it’s definitely the longest one so far, featuring Foyles in London. With 7 floor of books, I happily spent almost the entire evening there filming. Thanks for watching!

The Book Lovers Series Ep. 4: Librairie du Premier-Film

Episode 4 of The Book Lovers Series presents the most fabulous bookstore of all for filmmakers and film lovers: the Librairie du Premier-Film in Lyon, France. The entire bookshop is dedicated to cinema!

Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch

All my close friends know I’m a die-hard fan of Wes Anderson. So it’s a given that I’m over-the-moon excited to hear that his next film is in the works. The French Dispatch is casting now, and heading the list of suspects are all my favorite actors, including Timothée Chalamet, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton. Rumors are that Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, and Léa Seydoux may also come on board the Wes Anderson train. With production to wrap-up early next year, we may get to see The French Dispatch in theaters by the end of 2019. I will rewatch all my Wes Anderson DVDs and re-read all his screenplays until then. That’s the plan.

3 Days in Provence

Ever since I first read Peter Mayle’s A Year In Provence many many year sago, I’ve been dreaming of visiting Provence. This fall, I finally had a chance to actually do it. Even though it was a brief stay (3 days / 2 nights), it was just enough to get a feel for the region. Here are the Provence vlogs. Thanks for watching them with me!

The Book Lovers Series Ep. 3: The Strand

Happy Thanksgiving! If you feel like shopping after today’s big meal, how about a visit to the Strand Book Store?!

THE STRAND BOOK STORE
828 Broadway
New York, New York 10003

The 5 Most Idiosyncratic Directors

Too good not to share!

The Book Lovers Series Ep. 2: 192 Books

Here’s the second installment in the Book Lovers Series … featuring a beloved little bookshop in Chelsea, New York City, called 192 BOOKS. Opened in 2003, 192 BOOKS has been keeping New Yorkers well stocked with beautiful art books and the best literature in the world ever since.

192 BOOKS
192 Tenth Avenue
New York, NY 10011

From Paris With Love

The books I ordered from Shakespeare and Company finally arrived!

"Treasure"

“Treasure” - for Chetty & Ro.

Kodak's New Super 8 Camera

I’m so ready for this! Fingers crossed that Kodak’s new Super 8 camera is coming out soon! Thanks Kodak!

John Krasinski's Notes on the Lantern Scene in "A Quiet Place"

If you follow the blog, then you know how much I love John Krasinski's first feature film A Quiet Place. Here's a video in which Krasinski breaks down how he shot one of my favorite scenes in the movie! 

For more BTS of A Quiet Place: 

Added on September 29, 2018

How the sounds of A Quiet Place were made:

The Sounds of Wes Anderson

I have a handful of favorite directors. And among the top five is definitely Wes Anderson! We all know what an exceptional visual artist Mr. Anderson is, but did you know that ambient sounds and foley techniques - combined with nostalgic, whimsical soundtracks - are also huge parts of his movies? Watch this video essay by the wonderful folks at Fandor and you'll see why Wes Anderson is such a beloved filmmaker!

Orson Welles' Final Movie "The Other Side of the Wind"

... a film within a film shot between 1970 and 1976, written and directed by the one and only Orson Welles is coming to Netflix and selected theaters on November 2, 2018! The trailer is DOPE and oh so nostalgic! I can't wait to see this!

For a bit of background story on why this movie took so long to finish, read this May 2015 Vanity Fair article.

The Book Lovers Series Ep. 1: Bards Alley

I'm your typical geek. I love books. I love bookstores, libraries, and all things to do with books. For a while now, I've been wanting to start a short film or documentary series just about bookstores. Whenever I travel somewhere, one of the first things I Google or Yelp for, next to food & restaurants, is a bookstore. So here it is! The first bookshop of many more to be featured on The Book Lovers Series. Welcome to Bards Alley Bookshop in Vienna, Virginia!

BARDS ALLEY BOOKS
110 Church St NW
Vienna, Virginia 22180

What is ISO?

If you've watched Part 1 on Aperture , Part 2 on Shutter Speed, then you're definitely ready for Part 3 on ISO! After this, grab your beautiful camera and go shoot something fully on ... manual mode. Practice, practice, practice! You'll get better each day and will also have lots of fun, I promise!

What is Shutter Speed?

Here's Part 2 of the 3 part series on how to shoot in manual mode. And it's all about how to choose the right shutter speed for each of your photos. If you haven't seen Part 1 on Aperture yet, then you should definitely should check it out.