Film School Rejects » Daily Diversion

Daily Diversion: Titular Lines

Dr. Cole Abaius — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:13:25 +0000

Not a bad little showing here, but I’m missing where someone tells me to, “Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown.”

What do you think? How many of these flicks have you seen? What’s your favorite?

Daily Diversion: The First ‘Color’ Film

Dr. Cole Abaius — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:37:59 +0000

The 1908 film A Visit to the Seaside is widely regarded as the first successful movie to utilize natural color. There were many, many experimental films done before that but they either haven’t survived through history or didn’t end up working quite right. But, watching people hang out on the boardwalk isn’t exactly thrilling, especially doing it for eight minutes.

Luckily, back in 1899, the Lumiere Brothers made a film called The Serpentine Dance which features a young woman dancing. Even though it’s now over 100 years old, it’s still captivating. Plus, the frames were all hand-colored (which probably quadrupled post-production time) so in a loosely-defined way, this is one of the very first color films. It’s also in a loosely-defined way, one of the first animated films, too. But more fascinating than that, it stands as a testament to early experimentation and a time where old art forms were being infused into the new.

What do you think?

Daily Diversion: My Favorite Sci-Fi Movie (Star Wars/Star Trek)

Neil Miller — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:29:33 +0000

The folks at College Humor, once again showing off their knack for simplicity, have debuted a video called “My Favorite Sci-Fi Movie” today. It tells a simple tale with two different trailers. Have a look at the video above, you’ll see what I mean. Spoiler alert: It has something to do with Star Trek and Star Wars.

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com.

Daily Diversion: Spike Jonze’s ‘Wild Things’ Focus Group

Neil Miller — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:25:48 +0000

Director Spike Jonze has begun blogging over on his own site, We Love You So, where he is chronicling his own experiences as he brings Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s tale Where the Wild Things Are to life. Well, the blog is much more than that, in fact it is probably the most awesome thing any Spike Jonze fan could ever hope for — a window into the mind of one of the more creative directors working today, but there is also some Wild Things related stuff, including the video above. In said video, Spike is performing a test of an early Wild Things mask with a very special focus group. It is short, but funny nonetheless, so check it out.

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com.

Daily Diversion: New Kirk and Spock Take on Trekkies

Neil Miller — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:09:38 +0000

If you missed this past weekend’s Justin Timberlake hosted Saturday Night Live, you certainly missed out. Don’t worry, I missed it to. But lucky for us, Hulu has all of the best bits that can be streamed right to your home computer, rendering your Saturday night’s free for exploration out into the world. Spoiler alert: there are girls out there.

Anyway, among the various funny sketches was a special Weekend Update segment featuring Star Trek stars Chris Pine (Capt. Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Mr. Spock). In the segment, the two new Trek leads address the issues of fans who have been, well, giving them some “feedback.” Favorite moment: “For them to not like it, would make them dickheads.” Check out the video above, courtesy of Hulu. Star Trek is in theaters now.

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com. Also as a special bonus, please enjoy the following music video — it is brilliant.

Daily Diversion: Batman’s Garage Sale

Neil Miller — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:30:02 +0000

To start, I am aware that this video from Funny or Die is at least a week old. But as always, I’m posting it anyway. Why? Because it made me laugh and we’ve yet to feature it as a Daily Diversion. For those not following, this video tells a simple story of a man down on his luck: Caught up in a dire financial situation, former Batman star Adam West is down on his luck. And in order to get himself back on his feet — or eating well again — he’s having a garage sale.

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com.

Daily Diversion: Trekkies Bash Star Trek as ‘Fun, Watchable’

Neil Miller — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:15:18 +0000

As you may have heard, there is a Star Trek movie hitting theaters this week. And you may also not know this, but its going to be huge. Director J.J. Abrams and crew may have finally created a Trek movie that flies beyond the fold of the franchise’s hardcore fanbase, reaching out to grab some big time mainstream success. And the only major downside to this is that this new, shiny version of Star Trek is upsetting die hard fans, also known as Trekkies. As you can see in the report from The Onion News Network above, there is much disturbance in the land of the Trekkie today.

It makes me giggle…

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com.

Daily Diversion: Good Morning, Megan Fox

Neil Miller — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:00:08 +0000

For all intents and purposes, there is no reason why we should post a video of Megan Fox waking up and eating breakfast — especially since it is just a ploy for Esquire to sell magazines through the use of sex. Then again, I see now reason why we shouldn’t post the above video as today’s Daily Diversion. The whole point of this daily column is to give you something else to do besides live your life or scour the web for movie news. Therefore, here it is — today’s Diversion. Megan Fox in her underwear. Just click the image above and be transported to the video.

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com. Also, see below for the super hot Fox on the cover of the June issue of Esquire. Hat tip goes to Pete Sciretta on Twitter.

Daily Diversion: Kevin Smith Talks ‘Superman Lives’

Dr. Cole Abaius — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:19:35 +0000

Normally our Daily Diversions are a few minutes long and involve Indiana Jones mashed up with Snakes on a Plane or some sort of video tribute to the talents of Bea Arthur. But thanks to the lovely and talented Anne Thompson, we got reminded of this video featuring Kevin Smith from back a few years telling his side of how he was offered the Superman Reborn writing gig back in the mid 1990s. Turns out someone saw Mallrats, heard Brodie talking about Man of Steel Sperm, and realized that Kevin Smith knows his Superman.

Basically, it’s a long, hilarious exposition on how some Hollywood producers just don’t understand comic book adaptations. Trust me when I say that you definitely have 20 minutes to spend during your work day exploring what went horribly wrong. Superman with no suit? No flying? Scissors for hands?

Just make sure your boss can’t hear you laughing.

It’s been a long time since I saw this clip from An Evening with Kevin Smith (now with Spanish subtitles!), and it’s always nice to be reminded of the movies that never came to be. The things that might have happened but didn’t even make it to the starting line. For even more fun, you should check out Kevin Smith’s script for Superman Lives.

Of course, Smith raises a brilliant point: Why would Superman need bodyguards?

Daily Diversion: Take a Trip to Apatow World

Dr. Cole Abaius — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:00:59 +0000

We haven’t had a reminder that Judd Apatow is the producer of every film ever in a long time, and we won’t until Funny People and Year One come out this summer. Unless he secretly produced Obsessed which had his brand of humor all over it. Since the last time we heard from him was with Pineapple Express, we’ll need to prepare for the first film he’s directed since way, way back in 2007. That’s where this video comes in.

Luckily, fan favorite College Humor has provided an excellent musical rendition of exactly how things work in the Apatow world. Turns out that that world revolves around the schlubby, slightly overweight guy getting the girl that’s way out of his league despite his quirky job and odd band of friends. No wonder Apatow’s work really resonates with Schlub-in-Chief Neil Miller.

What do you think? Schlub-in-chief? Who writes that?

Daily Diversion: We Miss You, Bea Arthur

Neil Miller — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:00:20 +0000

Since we know that you only read FSR, I’m going to assume that you haven’t even heard yet that Golden Girl Bea Arthur passed away over the weekend. She was 86. And today’s Daily Diversion is presented in her honor.

Beatrice Arthur, born in New York, star of 180 episodes of The Golden Girls and 141 episodes of Maude in the 1970s, was known best for her raspy voice and her wit. She was a truly amazing woman who once said “after being in the business for such a long time, I’ve done everything but rodeo and porno.” And as you will see in the video above — a clip from Bea’s appearance at the Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson — she was a damn funny lady. No matter how you remember her — though most of us will remember her as Dorothy Zbornak — I think we can all agree that she will be missed.

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com. And now for a special bonus, some of Bea Arthur’s best Golden Girls moments:

Daily Diversion: Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go!

Neil Miller — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:16:14 +0000

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, we’ve got a special treat for today’s Daily Diversion. Anyone remember the special appearance of Vanilla Ice in The Secret of the Ooze? Yeah, I thought so. Above you will see the music video for Ice’s “Ninja Rap,” a song that was a major part of my own childhood. And yes, I could do the dance. Don’t hate.

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com.

Daily Diversion: Henson’s 11

Neil Miller — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:24:47 +0000

It is likely that this brilliant video — which was created by a gal named Kat Reilly for a non-linear editing class — will show up on just about any movie website that is worth its salt. So before you jump all over me for once again “stealing from /Film,” I would like to urge you to get over it. This video is brilliant and we’re going to cover it today. So there. Now please watch and enjoy the mash-up of Ocean’s 11 and The Muppets.

Daily Diversion: Michael Bay’s Got Milk Commercial

Neil Miller — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:00:44 +0000

I was floored — yes, floored yesterday to find out from Danny of the Totally Rad Show via Twitter that Michael Bay had in fact directed the above commercial. There are several reasons why this was such a revelation: (a) I felt stupid for not already knowing that Mr. Bay had directed such a brilliant commercial, (b) I loved this commercial during it’s original run and (c) because it once again proves that Bay’s got some chops beyond explosions. Don’t you forget that people.

Should anyone want to fight about Michael Bay’s worth as a director, I’m available via Twitter here: twitter.com/rejects

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com.

Daily Diversion: Sam Rockwell, Ren and Stimpy Go Mad in Space

Neil Miller — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:37:08 +0000

One of the big hits on the web from the past month has been the first trailer for Duncan Jones’ indie sci-fi film Moon, starring Sam Rockwell. The trailer, complete with an awesome score from Clint Mansell and some wicked visuals courtesy of some handy model-work, seems to have blown a lot of people away. And now it has even inspired Funny or Die user Jowelnoarn to do a little mix and match. In the clip above, you will see a trailer a new film called Moon: Space Madness. It involves both Rockwell’s character Sam Bell and a few other little dudes who have been transported from the mid-90s. That’s right, Ren and Stimpy. It is a pretty awesome little mash-up, wouldn’t you agree?

For more daily video goodness, check out our Daily Diversion archive. To submit a video for us to scrutinize and then maybe post, send it via electronic mail to editors@filmschoolrejects.com.

Film School Rejects » Daily Diversion

Daily Diversion: Titular Lines

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Daily Diversion: The First ‘Color’ Film

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Daily Diversion: My Favorite Sci-Fi Movie (Star Wars/Star Trek)

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Daily Diversion: Spike Jonze’s ‘Wild Things’ Focus Group

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Daily Diversion: New Kirk and Spock Take on Trekkies

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Daily Diversion: Batman’s Garage Sale

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Daily Diversion: Trekkies Bash Star Trek as ‘Fun, Watchable’

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Daily Diversion: Good Morning, Megan Fox

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Daily Diversion: Kevin Smith Talks ‘Superman Lives’

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Daily Diversion: Take a Trip to Apatow World

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Daily Diversion: We Miss You, Bea Arthur

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Daily Diversion: Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go!

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Daily Diversion: Henson’s 11

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Daily Diversion: Michael Bay’s Got Milk Commercial

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Daily Diversion: Sam Rockwell, Ren and Stimpy Go Mad in Space

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