The Global Film Village

60′s Classic TV writer Sherwood Schwartz has died

// July 12th, 2011 // Comments Off // People

LOST may have been a ratings smash but the most famous group of castaways ever on television was created by Sherwood Schwartz on  Gilligan’s Island. He died peacefully today surrounded by his family at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Sherwood Schwartz was 94.

He made an indelible mark in pop culture. He won his only  Emmy Award in 1961 for his writing on The Red Skelton Show. His shows would never be considered high brow but few who watched television in the sixties can’t sing or hum the theme song’s to at least one of these shows. Sherwood wrote the songs as well as created the shows.

Gilligan’s Island premiered on September  26, 1964 on CBS and still can be seen today in syndication.

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Sir Sean Connery has reunited with the classic Aston Martin DB5

// June 23rd, 2010 // Comments Off // People

by Marc Halperin

The latest James Bond film is on hold because of financial problems at MGM and Connery has been replaced by a string of new Bonds that still haven’t overcome his signature performance. Russell Crowe has stepped into the role of Robin Hood.  Sir Sean hasn’t been seen in a new movie since 2003′s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen as Alan Quartermain. Some of us still think he was the last definitive Robin Hood in 1976′s Robin and Marion with the wonderful Audrey Hepburn.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKPVGIdJr-k

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Justin Freed Photography: I Found It at the Coolidge

// January 21st, 2010 // Comments Off // People

Justin Freed photo by Marc Halperin

by Marc Halperin

While we were in Boston recently we happened to notice a special exhibit was happening at the Brookline Public Library. Justin Freed previous owner and longtime programmer of the Coolidge Corner Theatre was presenting a collection of his photographs “I Found It at the Coolidge’’ detailing his life in the movie business and the artists he had met at the theatre and at the Telluride Film Festival over the years. I first met John Sayles one night sitting in Justin’s office above the theatre. I spent a lot of time in the theatre over the years watching his selections of film. (more…)

A Conversation with Scott Cooper about Crazy Heart

// January 19th, 2010 // Comments Off // People

Director Scott Cooper on the set with Jeff Bridges Photo Credit: Lorey Sebastian TM and (C) Twentieth Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

by Marla Lewin

I spoke with Scott Cooper the morning after the Palm Springs International Film Festival  Awards Gala about his first film Crazy Heart, which he wrote and directed. He is very excited about all the buzz and nominations that the film has generated.  Jeff Bridges was honored with an award at the Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala and last night he won the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama.

Scott said, “I was thrilled with all the excitement”.

Marla: How did this film come into being?

Scott: I wrote the role for Jeff, I told Robert Duvall, if I don’t get Jeff and T-bone to do the music, I shouldn’t do the film. (more…)

Lone Scherfig talks about casting Cary Mulligan at the Palm Springs Film Festival

// January 17th, 2010 // Comments Off // People

by Marla Lewin

Since her emergence on the international film scene in 2000 with the surprise hit Italian for Beginners, Lone Scherfig has captivated audiences and critics alike with her ability to master both subtle characterization and unforced plotting.  Her striking new film, An Education, has been a huge success since its first screenings at Sundance, where it won the Audience Award for World Cinema. An Education has gone on to win multiple nominations (including best picture) from the Broadcast Film Critics Awards, the British Independent Film Awards, a Golden Globe nod and Best Actress honors from the National Board of Review.

Lone Scherfig spoke with me on Saturday at the Palm Springs Film Festival, where her film was shown.  She said it has been quite a journey since the Sundance Film Festival last year. We discussed the attention the film and Cary Mulligan received at both the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival.  She said she is very happy for Cary, since she had to spend almost a year auditioning for the role. They were considering a few hundred candidates for this critical role, and Cary kept coming in to read. She had been on the top of Lone’s list from the first reading. (more…)