Phase IV [1974]
1. Squished abdomen.
2. Skittering across her navel.
3. “We didn’t know for what purpose. But we knew we would be told.”
Pretty fantastic. Why this isn’t better known and applauded is a mystery. It would make a great triple feature with The Andromeda Strain and Demon Seed. It’s streaming on Netflix till February 1. Catch it! (Though Paramount should really undertake a new transfer.)
Goodbye to Language 3D [2014]
1. Pages of a book.
2. Windshield wipers.
3. Snout.
Jean-Luc plays with a new toy for 70 minutes and we get to watch. Whether or not that fits into your idea of fun will partially determine your reaction to this movie. It doesn’t try to cohere, and it doesn’t. There are several cool moments. Is that enough to make a great movie?
In 1990, when I was about 15, I started keeping a diary. I was inspired by The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (I’m not ashamed to admit it!) and just cracked open a fresh spiral notebook and went to town.
50 odd notebooks later I’m still at it. Like most diaries it’s been a mishmash of personal reflection, inarticulate moodiness, simple recounting of the day’s events, observations, lists, fantasy, and my reaction to whatever’s happening in the world at large. And probably a whole lot else I’ve forgotten.
A diary is a central plot point of Pause of the Clock. When you pledge $300 or more, you get to choose any date between 1990 and 2014; I will then make a full color copy of the diary entry for that date and mail it directly to you. Did I write about a memorable world event? A mundane catalog of the day’s events? Or a juicy personal secret? Find out.
33 backers
$3,451 pledged of $15,000 goal
23% funded! Time to go all in. Later today I’ll be offering a sneak peek at one of the pledge rewards. Till then, go check out the project. Every pledge brings us closer!
Dial M for Murder [1954]
1. Scissors from her mending basket.
2. Luminous green bedside clock.
3. A bottle of lighter fluid. High-waisted pants, suspenders, a tucked-in necktie.
It’s definitely a more involving film in 3-D. Hitchcock is extremely restrained in his use of effects, which just means that as a member of the audience you feel more a part of the world onscreen. It’s still very talky, but the talk becomes more interesting. Also, Grace Kelly.
31 backers
$3,411 pledged of $15,000 goal
Holy cats! 22% funded! But the project needs to be 100% funded–or else the deal’s off. Kickstarter is all or nothing. So please. Go check out the project. Every pledge counts!
The biggest item in my Kickstarter budget for Pause of the Clock is color correction. You might ask yourself, what the heck does that mean exactly? Perhaps something like Ted Turner fiddling around with some knobs on a console?
Not exactly. As an A.V. Club post helpfully points out, raw footage has a washed-out look to it that’s not exactly going to dazzle anyone. Here’s an untouched frame from Pause of the Clock as an example.
a still from PAUSE OF THE CLOCK–Dylan asleep
It’s sort of thin and blah looking, without much texture or character. But preserved in all those pixels is a goldmine of resolution waiting to bloom into view. A film colorist steps in and draws out the latent color in that footage, while artfully (and judiciously) heightening it. Here’s a before/after demo clip that shows you how much of a difference a colorist makes:
Get the picture? The reason color correction makes up a huge chunk of my budget is because, simply, how the film ultimately looks depends on it. And it’s going to look like dynamite, trust me!
Bell Book and Candle [1958]
1. Tangled bare feet on the coffee table.
2. “Have you been involved with Un-American activities?”
“No. Very American, I’d say. Early American.”
3. Cat in a wastebasket.
With 31 days left to go, that’s nothing to sneeze at. But I need more. I know you like to read my blog; the stats tell the story. So, consider your pledge for the film akin to dropping some money in a tip jar. It will mean the difference between a 20-year-old film being finished or not. Thank you!
Greenwich Village [1944]
1. “Men with long hair and women with short hair.”
2. Lime green tape on the bottom corner of the bass.
3. Flower vase water drink.
