Amazon’s New Pilot Season, Featuring Award-Winning and Acclaimed Roster of Talent, Debuts June 17 on Amazon Video
Shows feature notable talent, including Matt Bomer, Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Ambrose, David Krumholtz, Jessica Pare, David Arquette, Thomas Lennon, Zoe Kravitz, Michael Pena and Erik Griffin
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)— Amazon today announced the lineup for its next pilot season; a unique development process that gives all customers an opportunity to stream and review pilots in order to help choose the next Amazon Original Series that are then available to Prime Members. These new shows, including two one-hour pilots and six kids pilots, are scheduled to debut on June 17, 2016 exclusively on Amazon Video in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Japan. New one hour-pilots, The Last Tycoon and The Interestings, which will be available in 4K Ultra HD and HDR, will be joined by new kids pilots including live-action show Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and animated pilots The Curious Kitty and Friends, Jazz Duck, Morris and the Cow, Toasty Tales and Little Big Awesome. All pilots will be available via the Amazon Video app for compatible TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/amazonvideo.
“Our process has proven to work time and time again. Their feedback has helped create series that have become fan favorites among critics and customers.”
Amazon customer feedback on pilots have helped make some of the most critically-acclaimed and popular series to date, including multi Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series Transparent, multi Golden Globe-winning series Mozart in the Jungle, and the most-streamed Amazon Original Series ever by Prime members globally, The Man in the High Castle. Feedback also helped make Amazon Original Kids Series Annedroids, Niko and the Sword of Light and Tumble Leaf that won a combined nine Daytime Emmy Awards.
“We’re focused on bringing customers compelling, must-see TV and we accomplish this by going directly to them for input,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Digital Video and Amazon Studios. “Our process has proven to work time and time again. Their feedback has helped create series that have become fan favorites among critics and customers.”
The new one hour pilots come from an accomplished roster of creative talent such as Academy Award nominee Billy Ray (Captain Phillips, The Hunger Games), Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco), Academy Award nominee Michael De Luca (The Social Network), Lyn Greene and Richard Levine (Masters of Sex, Boss, Nip/Tuck) and star Golden Globe winner Matt Bomer (White Collar, The Normal Heart), five-time Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer (Frasier, Boss), Emmy nominee Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), David Krumholtz (New Girl) and Jessica Pare (Mad Men).
Creative talent helming the new kids pilots include Tsuneo Goda (Godo), Jonathan Judge (The Thundermans, School of Rock), Andreas Trolf (Sanjay and Craig), Ben Gruber (Spongebob Squarepants, Super Jail), Thomas Borowski and Caroline Foley (Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken), and feature David Arquette (Scream, Jake and the Neverland Pirates) and voice talent, including Thomas Lennon (Bob’s Burgers, Dawn of the Croods), Zoë Kravitz (Divergent, Mad Max), Michael Peña (Ant Man, The Martian) and Erik Griffin (Workaholics).
Amazon’s next pilot season includes the following one hour shows:
The Interestings
Adapted from Meg Wolitzer’s critically acclaimed New York Times best-seller and a co-production with TriStar Television, The Interestings follows a group of artistic teenagers who meet at summer camp in 1974. As they transition into adulthood over the course of the next few decades, their friendships are tested by tragedy, success, failure and secrecy. At the heart is Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) as Jules Jacobson, an aspiring actress who uses her wit to compensate for what she is lacking in glamour, money and the talent her other friends seem to have in spades. BAFTA winner Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fires, Four Weddings and a Funeral) directed the pilot written by Lyn Greene and Richard Levine (Masters of Sex, Boss, Nip Tuck). In addition to Greene, Levine and Newell, Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Lindsay Sloane (Covert Affairs) serve as executive producers. The Interestings also stars David Krumholtz (Numb3rs), Jessica Pare (Mad Men), Matt Barr (Sleepy Hallow), Gabriel Ebert (Ricki and the Flash), Jessica Collins (Rubicon) and Corey Cott (Public Morals). Wolitzer’s novel, which the series is based on, received numerous accolades from top tier press and made countless “best-of” lists, including Amazon Best Books of 2013: Top 10 Literature & Fiction, Top 100 Editors’ Picks, New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2013, inclusion in Oprah’s Best 10 Books of 2013, among others.
The Last Tycoon
A co-production with TriStar Television, The Last Tycoon is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Billy Ray (Captain Phillips, The Hunger Games), and executive produced by Ray and Christopher Keyser (Tyrant, Party of Five), who serve as showrunners, Joshua D. Maurer (Rosemary’s Baby), Alixandre Witlin (Rosemary’s Baby), and David A. Stern (Rosemary’s Baby). Mad Men’s Scott Hornbacher serves as co-executive producer of the pilot, along with Perri Kipperman (Billions). An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s last work, The Last Tycoon follows Hollywood’s Golden Boy, Monroe Stahr (Matt Bomer, White Collar) as he battles father figure and boss, Pat Brady (Kelsey Grammer, Frasier) for the soul of their studio. In a world darkened by the Great Depression and the growing international influence of Hitler’s Germany, The Last Tycoon illuminates the passions, violence, and towering ambition of 1930’s Hollywood. Lily Collins (The Blind Side) stars as Cecelia Brady and noted Pulitzer-winning Fitzgerald scholar A. Scott Berg serves as consulting producer.
Amazon’s next pilot season includes the following kids shows:
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (for children ages 6-11; live-action)
Sid & Marty Krofft present Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, a live action show for children ages 6 to 11, based on their classic Saturday morning series from the 1970s. The show is centered on two brothers, Johnny and Scotty, who discover and befriend Sigmund, a friendly young sea-monster who escapes from his old life and his comically dysfunctional brothers Slurp and Blurp. Now, using a Clubhouse as their hiding place, the boys must keep Sigmund safe from an ambitious sea-monster hunter Captain Barnabas. The show is Executive Produced by Sid & Marty Krofft (H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost) with the pilot being directed by Jonathan Judge (The Thundermans, School of Rock) and starring David Arquette (Scream, Jake and the Neverland Pirates) as Captain Barnabas. Garrett Frawley and Brian Turner (Santa Baby) wrote the new teleplay based on the classic series.
Little Big Awesome (for children ages 6-11; animated)
Little Big Awesome is a comedy for kids ages 6-11 that combines 2D animation, puppetry, and real live action footage as we explore the whimsically weird world of Ballopolis. Our show follows Gluko, a jelly giant, and Lennon, a small kid-like creature with a fuzzy hat, who are inseparable buddies. They adventure through a universe where sea turtles fly, flowers talk, and tear drops splash around on a hot summer day. Gluko and Lennon’s desire to help those around them can, at times, lead them to epically outlandish places, but at the end of the day, this show is about two best buds making their own fun and enjoying the wonderfully strange world around them. Created by Tomas Dieguez (TRONCO), written by Ben Gruber (Spongebob Squarepants and Super Jail), and animated by Emmy award winning studio Titmouse (Randy Cunningham and Metalocalypse).
Morris and the Cow (for children ages 6-11; animated)
Morris and the Cow, an animated comedy for 6 to 11 year-olds, follows Morris, a 10 year-old determined to follow his passion and become a cowboy! Wearing homemade chaps and joined by his best friend, a talking cow named Florence, the duo explores the city of South Krumpton while confronting everyday problems with a mix of grit, determination, and country wisdom. The show is created and written by Andreas Trolf (Sanjay and Craig) and Luke Watson (Memphis Beat), with production and animation by Emmy-winning Bento Box Entertainment (Bob’s Burgers). Featuring the voice talent of Jermaine Fowler (College Humor, Robot Chicken) as Morris, Riki Lindhome (The Muppets, Adventure Time) as Florence, and Thomas Lennon (Bob’s Burgers, Dawn of the Croods) as Jimmy Ray Royce. Also starring Zoë Kravitz (Divergent, Mad Max), Michael Peña (Ant Man, The Martian), and Erik Griffin (Workaholics).
Toasty Tales (for children ages 6-11; animated)
Toasty Tales in an animated comedy for kids ages 6-11, featuring Waffle, Burger and Pants-- three best friends who happen to be Marshmallows living in the long forgotten Move-Along National Park. Every day is a new adventure filled with strange creatures, perilous excursions, and epic tomfoolery, always served with a side of pancakes, hot off the griddle! Together, the trio explore the mysteries of Move-Along, and spin tall tales that maybe…just maybe…. have a hint of truth. Created by Thomas Borowski and Caroline Foley (Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken), written by Merriwether Williams (Spongebob Squarepants, Adventure Time), and animated by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (Robot Chicken).
The Curious Kitty and Friends (for preschool-aged children)
The Curious Kitty and Friends is a preschool stop-motion animated show, where we will join the upbeat and colorful adventures of kitty cat Komaneko as she explores the wonderful world with her friends Mimmi Bear, Radibo, and Yeti. With her trusty video camera and knapsack in tow, creative and curious Komaneko makes her own movies, usually starring her two favorite dolls, Wink and Ink. This playful show is produced by Dwarf Studios and comes from the mind of Tsuneo Goda, the creator and director of the world-famous DOMO among other numerous characters and award-winning films and series. The talent also includes recognized lead animator Hiro Minegishi, music by Kevin Kiner (Star Wars Rebels, Jane the Virgin) and script by Kent Redeker (Doc McStuffins, Special Agent Oso).
Jazz Duck (for preschool-aged children)
Jazz Duck is an animated series that encourages preschoolers to listen and express themselves as they explore the sounds and musical potential of their world! Jazz Duck is part duck, part saxophone, and loads of physical fun. With the friendship of the Narrator and his animal friends, he embarks on adventures through the noisy Big City that culminate in a musical jam. Created by Tom Jobbins, co-directing with Mark Perrett, the show is animated by award-winning studio Nexus Productions and features a kid-filled voice cast including Myla Beau, Britain Dalton, Tony Espinosa, Aiden Ledowski, and Ava Priestley with saxophonist Ross Hughes as Jazz Duck.
About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch, and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:
Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV shows, including popular licensed content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Amazon Original Series and Movies from Amazon Studios like Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, kids series Tumble Leaf and Chi Raq, available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership
Add-on Subscriptions: Dozens of subscriptions to networks like SHOWTIME, STARZ and more, available to Amazon Prime members as add-ons to their membership
Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers
Instant Access: Instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Amazon Video app on TVs, mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire tablets, or online. For a list of all compatible devices visit www.amazon.com/howtostream
Premium Features: Top features like 4K Ultra HD, High Dynamic Range (HDR) and mobile downloads for offline viewing
In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items across all categories, more than one million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, early access to select Lightning Deals all year long, free secure, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive with Prime Photos, access to borrow books with the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: www.amazon.com/prime.
About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.
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Showing posts with label Mike Newell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mike Newell. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2016
Friday, June 26, 2015
Idris Elba Narrates "Enchanted Kingdom," Due in August 2015
BBC Earth Films’ ‘ENCHANTED KINGDOM,’ Narrated by Idris Elba, Coming to U.S. Theaters for a Special Two-Night Event August 10 & 11
Tickets on Sale July 3
BBC Worldwide North America Partners with Fathom Events to Distribute Ground-Breaking Nature Film in 3D
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BBC Worldwide North America and Fathom Events announce a special two-day theatrical event of the most ambitious 3D nature film produced to date - ENCHANTED KINGDOM, coming to theaters August 10 and 11, 2015, with tickets going on sale Friday, July 3, 2015. Narrated by Emmy® nominated and Golden Globe award-winning actor Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, "Luther," American Gangster), ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a jaw-dropping immersive family cinema experience set to take moviegoers on a cinematic trip of a lifetime through seven distinct realms titled as: Mysterious Forest, Fiery Underworld, Alien Sands, Scorched Plains, Fantastical Seas, Frozen Spires, and the Mercurial Waters across Africa.
“Audiences won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking sights and sounds of nature, all on the big screen.”
Tickets for “Enchanted Kingdom” can be purchased beginning July 3 online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
Over the course of 573 days of filming in 13 countries, with 130 camera cases, 2.4 tons of camera equipment, 2 cars rammed by elephants, 2 sunk boats, 2 civil unrests, and 1 hippo attack, BBC Earth Films brings together cutting-edge 3D technology, Hollywood production expertise, and the best of BBC’s nature filmmaking to create the ultimate immersive cinema experience.
“It's a beautiful film that takes you around our world through the finest lens. I was compelled to lend my voice to guide you along the journey. Enjoy,” said Idris Elba, Golden Globe winning actor.
“Once again my colleagues at BBC Earth have blown my mind, capturing phenomenal footage in 3D, creating awe-inspiring adventures, and pushing filming and technology even further than they ever have before. Thanks to our partnership with Fathom Events, everyone in the U.S. will have an opportunity to share an experience of a lifetime,” states Soumya Sriraman, EVP Film, Home Entertainment and Licensing for BBC Worldwide North America.
“The outstanding team at BBC Worldwide North America has brought us some of our most successful events to date, and ENCHANTED KINGDOM will be no exception,” said John Rubey, Fathom Events CEO. “Audiences won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking sights and sounds of nature, all on the big screen.”
Produced by BBC Earth Films and Reliance Entertainment, and executive produced by Mike Newell (Great Expectations, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco), ENCHANTED KINGDOM brings together a host of British film-making talent. The film is directed by Patrick Morris (Life, Wild Africa) and Neil Nightingale (Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie, Great Barrier Reef) with screenplay by acclaimed screenwriter, novelist, and playwright Nigel Williams (Charlie, Breaking Up, Scallagrig) and music by the celebrated Scottish composer Patrick Doyle (Brave, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Gosford Park).
Synopsis:
ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a spectacular 3D journey for the entire family, taking the audience on an immersive adventure, transporting the viewer from grey urbanity to the vibrancy and vitality of nature. Experience Africa alongside the filmmakers and go on an astounding exploration through an enchanted land where nature weaves its incredible magic. Discover seven distinct realms in Africa, and see the continent at its most gorgeous and most harsh, most terrible and most beautiful – finally transforming into an abundant paradise. ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a thrilling, immersive journey depicting the wonders of the planet as never seen before-– and revealing the real world to be just as enchanting as any storybook.
ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a BBC Earth Films Production fully financed by Reliance Entertainment in association with IM Global and Evergreen Studios. It was produced by Myles Connolly, Amanda Hill, and Neil Nightingale, with Deepak Nayar, Stuart Ford, Marcus Arthur, Mike Newell, Mike Devlin, and Miles Ketley as executive producers, along with co-executive producers Martyn Freeman and Mike Gunton.
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is the recognized leader in the alternative entertainment industry, offering a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events in movie theaters nationwide that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, the performing arts, major sporting events, music concerts, comedy series, Broadway shows, original programming featuring entertainment’s biggest stars, socially relevant documentaries with audience Q&A and much more. Fathom Events takes audiences behind-the-scenes and offers unique extras, creating the ultimate entertainment experience. It is owned by a consortium called AC JV, LLC., comprised of AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), the three largest movie theater circuits in the United States. In addition, Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live events to 820 locations in 177 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.
About BBC Worldwide North America
BBC Worldwide North America is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) operating in the U.S. and Canada. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company operates four businesses in the territory - linear and digital content sales and co-productions, consumer products, BBC.com, and BBC Worldwide Productions, the production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars. The company also owns a 50.1% share in cable channel BBC AMERICA through a joint venture with AMC Networks.
About BBC Earth Films
BBC Earth Films is the theatrical arm of BBC Earth, the global factual brand for BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial arm. BBC Earth Films bring the most astounding stories from the natural world to the big screen using state of the art technology to create unforgettable cinema experiences. Combining Hollywood expertise with world-leading BBC filmmakers, BBC Earth Films seek to take audiences on a journey of discovery, uncovering earth’s wonders and revealing some of the most incredible characters to have shared our planet. Building on the BBC’s success with landmark film credits such as Deep Blue and Earth the movie, BBC Earth Films takes this ambition to the next level with One Life, an awe-inspiring story that shows how life connects us all and two 3D features in partnership with Evergreen Films and Reliance Entertainment Walking with Dinosaurs 3D takes audiences back 70 million years to the last great dinosaur era and is distributed by 20th Century Fox in the US and the majority of international territories, and Enchanted Kingdom 3D a journey through Earth’s wildest continent Africa, discovering unimaginable sights and stories.
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Tickets on Sale July 3
BBC Worldwide North America Partners with Fathom Events to Distribute Ground-Breaking Nature Film in 3D
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BBC Worldwide North America and Fathom Events announce a special two-day theatrical event of the most ambitious 3D nature film produced to date - ENCHANTED KINGDOM, coming to theaters August 10 and 11, 2015, with tickets going on sale Friday, July 3, 2015. Narrated by Emmy® nominated and Golden Globe award-winning actor Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, "Luther," American Gangster), ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a jaw-dropping immersive family cinema experience set to take moviegoers on a cinematic trip of a lifetime through seven distinct realms titled as: Mysterious Forest, Fiery Underworld, Alien Sands, Scorched Plains, Fantastical Seas, Frozen Spires, and the Mercurial Waters across Africa.
“Audiences won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking sights and sounds of nature, all on the big screen.”
Tickets for “Enchanted Kingdom” can be purchased beginning July 3 online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
Over the course of 573 days of filming in 13 countries, with 130 camera cases, 2.4 tons of camera equipment, 2 cars rammed by elephants, 2 sunk boats, 2 civil unrests, and 1 hippo attack, BBC Earth Films brings together cutting-edge 3D technology, Hollywood production expertise, and the best of BBC’s nature filmmaking to create the ultimate immersive cinema experience.
“It's a beautiful film that takes you around our world through the finest lens. I was compelled to lend my voice to guide you along the journey. Enjoy,” said Idris Elba, Golden Globe winning actor.
“Once again my colleagues at BBC Earth have blown my mind, capturing phenomenal footage in 3D, creating awe-inspiring adventures, and pushing filming and technology even further than they ever have before. Thanks to our partnership with Fathom Events, everyone in the U.S. will have an opportunity to share an experience of a lifetime,” states Soumya Sriraman, EVP Film, Home Entertainment and Licensing for BBC Worldwide North America.
“The outstanding team at BBC Worldwide North America has brought us some of our most successful events to date, and ENCHANTED KINGDOM will be no exception,” said John Rubey, Fathom Events CEO. “Audiences won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking sights and sounds of nature, all on the big screen.”
Produced by BBC Earth Films and Reliance Entertainment, and executive produced by Mike Newell (Great Expectations, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco), ENCHANTED KINGDOM brings together a host of British film-making talent. The film is directed by Patrick Morris (Life, Wild Africa) and Neil Nightingale (Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie, Great Barrier Reef) with screenplay by acclaimed screenwriter, novelist, and playwright Nigel Williams (Charlie, Breaking Up, Scallagrig) and music by the celebrated Scottish composer Patrick Doyle (Brave, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Gosford Park).
Synopsis:
ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a spectacular 3D journey for the entire family, taking the audience on an immersive adventure, transporting the viewer from grey urbanity to the vibrancy and vitality of nature. Experience Africa alongside the filmmakers and go on an astounding exploration through an enchanted land where nature weaves its incredible magic. Discover seven distinct realms in Africa, and see the continent at its most gorgeous and most harsh, most terrible and most beautiful – finally transforming into an abundant paradise. ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a thrilling, immersive journey depicting the wonders of the planet as never seen before-– and revealing the real world to be just as enchanting as any storybook.
ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a BBC Earth Films Production fully financed by Reliance Entertainment in association with IM Global and Evergreen Studios. It was produced by Myles Connolly, Amanda Hill, and Neil Nightingale, with Deepak Nayar, Stuart Ford, Marcus Arthur, Mike Newell, Mike Devlin, and Miles Ketley as executive producers, along with co-executive producers Martyn Freeman and Mike Gunton.
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is the recognized leader in the alternative entertainment industry, offering a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events in movie theaters nationwide that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, the performing arts, major sporting events, music concerts, comedy series, Broadway shows, original programming featuring entertainment’s biggest stars, socially relevant documentaries with audience Q&A and much more. Fathom Events takes audiences behind-the-scenes and offers unique extras, creating the ultimate entertainment experience. It is owned by a consortium called AC JV, LLC., comprised of AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), the three largest movie theater circuits in the United States. In addition, Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live events to 820 locations in 177 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.
About BBC Worldwide North America
BBC Worldwide North America is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) operating in the U.S. and Canada. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company operates four businesses in the territory - linear and digital content sales and co-productions, consumer products, BBC.com, and BBC Worldwide Productions, the production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars. The company also owns a 50.1% share in cable channel BBC AMERICA through a joint venture with AMC Networks.
About BBC Earth Films
BBC Earth Films is the theatrical arm of BBC Earth, the global factual brand for BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial arm. BBC Earth Films bring the most astounding stories from the natural world to the big screen using state of the art technology to create unforgettable cinema experiences. Combining Hollywood expertise with world-leading BBC filmmakers, BBC Earth Films seek to take audiences on a journey of discovery, uncovering earth’s wonders and revealing some of the most incredible characters to have shared our planet. Building on the BBC’s success with landmark film credits such as Deep Blue and Earth the movie, BBC Earth Films takes this ambition to the next level with One Life, an awe-inspiring story that shows how life connects us all and two 3D features in partnership with Evergreen Films and Reliance Entertainment Walking with Dinosaurs 3D takes audiences back 70 million years to the last great dinosaur era and is distributed by 20th Century Fox in the US and the majority of international territories, and Enchanted Kingdom 3D a journey through Earth’s wildest continent Africa, discovering unimaginable sights and stories.
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Tuesday, February 7, 2012
"Harry Potter" Wins Big at 2012 Art Directors Guild Awards
The Art Directors Guild (ADG) is an American labor union and also a branch of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) that represents motion picture and television professionals. Among the ADG’s sponsored activities are a film society and the Annual ADG Awards.
The ADG has announced the nominations for their 16th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards. The winners were announced Saturday, February 4, 2012.
16th Annual (2012) Excellence in Production Design Awards winners:
Period Film:
HUGO Production Designer: Dante Ferretti
Fantasy Film
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 Production Designer: Stuart Craig
Contemporary Film
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Production Designer: Donald Graham Burt
In addition, the guild
• presented a lifetime achievement award to Tony Walton
• inducted Robert Boyle, William Darling and Alfred Junge into its hall of fame
This year's Art Directors Guild Cinematic Imagery Award will be presented to the principal team behind the Harry Potter films, including producers David Heyman and David Barron; directors Christopher Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell, David Yates; creator and author J.K. Rowling; screenwriters Steve Klove and Michael Goldenberg; production designer Stuart Craig; art director Neil Lamont; and set decorator Stephenie McMillan.
NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION:
One-Hour Single Camera Television Series
"Boardwalk Empire" (Episode: 21) Production Designer: Bill Groom
Television Movie or Miniseries
"Mildred Pierce" Production Designer: Mark Friedberg
Episode of a Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series
"Modern Family" (Episode: Express Christmas) Production Designer: Richard Berg
Episode of a Multi-Camera, Variety, or Unscripted Series
"Saturday NIght Live" (Episode: host Justin Timberlake) Production Designers: Keith Ian Raywood, Eugene Lee, Leo Yoshimura, N. Joseph De Tullio
Awards, Music, or Game Shows
83rd Annual Academy Awards Production Designer: Steve Bass
Commercials and Music Videos:
"Activision: Call of Duty" (Episode: Modern Warfare 3) Production Designer: Neil Spisak
The ADG has announced the nominations for their 16th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards. The winners were announced Saturday, February 4, 2012.
16th Annual (2012) Excellence in Production Design Awards winners:
Period Film:
HUGO Production Designer: Dante Ferretti
Fantasy Film
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 Production Designer: Stuart Craig
Contemporary Film
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Production Designer: Donald Graham Burt
In addition, the guild
• presented a lifetime achievement award to Tony Walton
• inducted Robert Boyle, William Darling and Alfred Junge into its hall of fame
This year's Art Directors Guild Cinematic Imagery Award will be presented to the principal team behind the Harry Potter films, including producers David Heyman and David Barron; directors Christopher Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell, David Yates; creator and author J.K. Rowling; screenwriters Steve Klove and Michael Goldenberg; production designer Stuart Craig; art director Neil Lamont; and set decorator Stephenie McMillan.
NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION:
One-Hour Single Camera Television Series
"Boardwalk Empire" (Episode: 21) Production Designer: Bill Groom
Television Movie or Miniseries
"Mildred Pierce" Production Designer: Mark Friedberg
Episode of a Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series
"Modern Family" (Episode: Express Christmas) Production Designer: Richard Berg
Episode of a Multi-Camera, Variety, or Unscripted Series
"Saturday NIght Live" (Episode: host Justin Timberlake) Production Designers: Keith Ian Raywood, Eugene Lee, Leo Yoshimura, N. Joseph De Tullio
Awards, Music, or Game Shows
83rd Annual Academy Awards Production Designer: Steve Bass
Commercials and Music Videos:
"Activision: Call of Duty" (Episode: Modern Warfare 3) Production Designer: Neil Spisak
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Review: "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" is a Very Good Time at the Movies
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 97 (of 2010) by Leroy Douresseaux
Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time (2010)
Running time: 116 minutes (1 hour, 56 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action
DIRECTOR: Mike Newell
WRITERS: Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro, and Carlo Bernard; from a screen story by Jordan Mechner (based upon the video game series "Prince of Persia" created by Jordan Mechner)
PRODUCER: Jerry Bruckheimer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Seale
EDITORS: Mick Audsley, Michael Kahn, and Martin Walsh
COMPOSER: Harry Gregson-Williams
FANTASY/ADVENTURE/ACTION
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Steve Toussaint, Toby Kebbell, Richard Coyle, Ronald Pickup, Reece Ritchie, Gísli Orn Garðarsson, and William Foster
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a film based upon the video game series, Prince of Persia, especially the 2003 video game, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Set in a mystical and mythical version of the Persian Empire, the film focuses on a fugitive prince and a young princess trying to stop a villain from unleashing a force that can change time and even destroy the world. And this is actually a very entertaining film that is part Raiders of the Lost Ark and part Robin Hood with a bit of The Mummy (1999) thrown into the happy mix.
The hero of this story is Prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal), the youngest of the three Princes of Persia. Dastan was actually adopted into the royal family when he was a boy by King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup), the ruler of Persia. Dastan, along with his foster brothers, heir-to-the-throne Tus (Richard Coyle) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell), and their uncle, Nizam (Ben Kingsley), invade the sacred city of Alamut, because it is supposedly selling weapons to Persia’s enemies. The celebration of their successful conquest of Alamut quickly turns sour when Dastan is accused of murder.
Trying to clear his name, Dastan goes on the run with Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), the ruler of Alamut, and learns that the real murderer’s true goal is the Dagger of Time, which Tamina is supposed to protect. Dastan finds allies, of a sort, in a tax-averse, shady businessman named Sheik Amar (Alfred Molina) and his knife-throwing friend, an African named Seso (Steve Toussaint), and their men. The real murderer also has allies, a band of highly-skilled warriors and hired killers known as the Hassansins, and he orders them to slay Dastan.
Although I initially planned to see Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, I decided to avoid it because all the movie trailers for it made the movie look like an empty CGI-extravaganza with little or no story and wooden characters. Well, the plot is indeed simple; the story amounts to a bunch of chase scenes, fights, and rescues; and the characters are pretty shallow. But it works. Just like The Mummy, which had a simple plot and story, Prince of Persia is a fun ride through the desert. Prince of Persia’s characters aren’t as endearing as the feature players are in The Mummy. Still, I’d follow Dastan, the chatterbox Tamina, Sheik Amar and Seso again, if they went on another breathtaking mission to stop a bad guy and save life as we know it (especially if their adventures featured another lush score by Harry Gregson-Williams).
This movie is also easy on the eyes with its beautiful desert cities, extravagant backdrops, and lavish sets. The cast seems to be made of every known skin color and body type, and the costumes are dazzling and eclectic. No performance really stands out, but somehow, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Times works and works really well. It’s just fun to watch. It’s the kind of movie some of us will watch again and again on television.
7 of 10
B+
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time (2010)
Running time: 116 minutes (1 hour, 56 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action
DIRECTOR: Mike Newell
WRITERS: Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro, and Carlo Bernard; from a screen story by Jordan Mechner (based upon the video game series "Prince of Persia" created by Jordan Mechner)
PRODUCER: Jerry Bruckheimer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Seale
EDITORS: Mick Audsley, Michael Kahn, and Martin Walsh
COMPOSER: Harry Gregson-Williams
FANTASY/ADVENTURE/ACTION
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Steve Toussaint, Toby Kebbell, Richard Coyle, Ronald Pickup, Reece Ritchie, Gísli Orn Garðarsson, and William Foster
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a film based upon the video game series, Prince of Persia, especially the 2003 video game, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Set in a mystical and mythical version of the Persian Empire, the film focuses on a fugitive prince and a young princess trying to stop a villain from unleashing a force that can change time and even destroy the world. And this is actually a very entertaining film that is part Raiders of the Lost Ark and part Robin Hood with a bit of The Mummy (1999) thrown into the happy mix.
The hero of this story is Prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal), the youngest of the three Princes of Persia. Dastan was actually adopted into the royal family when he was a boy by King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup), the ruler of Persia. Dastan, along with his foster brothers, heir-to-the-throne Tus (Richard Coyle) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell), and their uncle, Nizam (Ben Kingsley), invade the sacred city of Alamut, because it is supposedly selling weapons to Persia’s enemies. The celebration of their successful conquest of Alamut quickly turns sour when Dastan is accused of murder.
Trying to clear his name, Dastan goes on the run with Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), the ruler of Alamut, and learns that the real murderer’s true goal is the Dagger of Time, which Tamina is supposed to protect. Dastan finds allies, of a sort, in a tax-averse, shady businessman named Sheik Amar (Alfred Molina) and his knife-throwing friend, an African named Seso (Steve Toussaint), and their men. The real murderer also has allies, a band of highly-skilled warriors and hired killers known as the Hassansins, and he orders them to slay Dastan.
Although I initially planned to see Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, I decided to avoid it because all the movie trailers for it made the movie look like an empty CGI-extravaganza with little or no story and wooden characters. Well, the plot is indeed simple; the story amounts to a bunch of chase scenes, fights, and rescues; and the characters are pretty shallow. But it works. Just like The Mummy, which had a simple plot and story, Prince of Persia is a fun ride through the desert. Prince of Persia’s characters aren’t as endearing as the feature players are in The Mummy. Still, I’d follow Dastan, the chatterbox Tamina, Sheik Amar and Seso again, if they went on another breathtaking mission to stop a bad guy and save life as we know it (especially if their adventures featured another lush score by Harry Gregson-Williams).
This movie is also easy on the eyes with its beautiful desert cities, extravagant backdrops, and lavish sets. The cast seems to be made of every known skin color and body type, and the costumes are dazzling and eclectic. No performance really stands out, but somehow, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Times works and works really well. It’s just fun to watch. It’s the kind of movie some of us will watch again and again on television.
7 of 10
B+
Sunday, November 28, 2010
--------------------------
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Mike Newell on Prince of Persia
Mike Newell, director of PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME talks about the film in this interview provided by Disney:
QUESTION: Did you reference old films like Korda’s The Thief Of Bagdad as you were making Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time?
MIKE NEWELL: I thought about movies that I had seen as a child, though The Thief Of Bagdad wasn’t one of them. But I did think about big cowboy movies that I had seen and obviously the movies of David Lean. With a film like this you know you are doing a genre which is called Bruckheimer and that takes a big canvas to produce and I was very aware of that.
QUESTION: Why did you film in Morocco at a time of the year that everyone advised against going there?
MIKE NEWELL: I’m afraid that is simply how the movies work. If you are going to do a film about the South Pole, the chances are that you will film it in Hawaii! Whatever is most difficult, you will get to do. That is just when everything happened. It was very hot! Some days it was 135 degrees! But it is very dry and so, you lose a lot of weight, which is good. Wet heat is what is exhausting and so I was fine. Also, it must be said, sometimes up in the mountains, we had absolutely torrential rain. Really serious rain, where we had to watch out for water courses getting washed away.
QUESTION: You never used rain in the movie. So did you stop when the weather got bad?
MIKE NEWELL: Yes, we stopped. And we stopped in vast confusion and disorganization – because nobody said it was going to rain! We simply weren’t prepared for it.
QUESTION: How hard was it to adapt the movie from a video game?
MIKE NEWELL: Jordan Mechner [creator of the video game and film scriptwriter] got on very well indeed. The reason was that he was the man who wrote the game and did the first graphic novel, and he is a research freak. He absolutely loves the ancient world and he loves doing his research. So there would be stuff in the story, which would be absolutely authentic – and I enjoyed that very much. It meant that I did not feel overwhelmed by the video game. Jerry Bruckheimer and I talked a lot about what our attitude to the game should be. Were we making the game or were we making a drama? Very clearly we said that we were making a drama. Then what happened was that during the making of the film, we became aware of at least one other new version of the game, which was much more visually sophisticated. I looked at that and I took some moves from that. The other big thing that we decided was that he had to be an action hero. But what were the seeds of what the character in the game does? What we discovered was that what it was about was this thing called parkour. Parkour was developed by the kids in the French housing estates. They would run up walls! So we watched tapes of this very dramatic stuff. In certain moves they do appear to be able to defy gravity…in just the way that the character in the game does. So the parkour people advised us in all sorts of ways. Like for the big sequence where Jake attacks the gate. They choreographed some of that for us, which was very useful. So there was a kind of overlap between parkour, the game and the making of a great big romantic widescreen experience. That was how it came together.
QUESTION: One of the film’s strengths is the comic banter, which seems like The Princess Bride?
MIKE NEWELL: The Princess Bride was one of the films we watched and were aware of. One of the reasons I wanted to make this film is that it is this new genre and Jerry [Bruckheimer] is a genre now. He does what he does. He is Pirates Of The Caribbean and The Rock and Bruce Willis going to defend the world from a crashing meteor. It is always a rich, high coloured mixture. I liked that a lot about the script. I liked that it was funny. I very much enjoy doing that stuff. Fred (Alfred Molina) and I had worked together before and I knew he would be wonderful. Then you do have that uneasy Beatrice and Benedict relationship between the boy and the girl where they absolutely loathe one another and then little by little they fall in love. So what you are doing is to make this great big collage of all sorts of things. It is no one movie. It is an entertainment.
QUESTION: The casting of Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton was crucial?
MIKE NEWELL: Yes. Jerry was very generous about that. He asked who I wanted and I told him very clearly that I had always thought about Jake. I wanted him to be American because this was a huge budget movie and the Americans deserve to see their own. At the same time I was encouraged to cast English. I was thinking about going to Bollywood for the girl. I saw a lot of Bollywood actresses. I saw a couple of sensational Iranian actress, an Israeli actress or two. I wanted a kind of exotic look. Then up pops Gemma Arterton from Gravesend, England and she was the one I settled on. I felt very strongly about both leads. Jerry saw them and agreed.
QUESTION: Ben Kingsley is a great villain. Had your paths crossed early in your careers when you both worked on the Uk TV soap, Coronation Street?
MIKE NEWELL: Apparently they did. Neither of us can really remember. But it was about the time that we were both working on the Street. I thought of him for this film because of films like Sexy Beast. I wanted somebody who would be believable as a good guy and would turn out to have this appalling second existence as the bad guy. So it was Gandhi on the one hand and Sexy Beast on the other. He was terrific. He puts out his hand and pulls the kid on to the horse and everything is going to be fine from that moment on. You trust him. Then you discover you must not trust him. I said to him that there were always going to be two movies. The movie that we were making and then the movie that his character was making, which was going to be different. And the one movie would twine round the other.
QUESTION: How did you work the balance between actual filming and the CGI effects?
MIKE NEWELL: This is the second time I have done one of these great big live action versus CG movies. We were in Morocco at the wrong time of the year and people were terrified that we would start to get sick, they were terrified that the level of competence that we would find out there was not as great as we needed. It was in fact superlatively more than we needed. They are really good at what they do out there. They were also afraid that we would get behind, that Morocco would turn into a swamp out of which we could clamber. It did not do that, by virtue of us removing certain sequences out of Morocco and putting them into stages in England. The biggest of those was the attack on the Eastern Gate. Originally we were going to build that part of the city in Morocco and we would then, with CG, have grafted the rest of the city all around it. I can see the magnificent location in my head right now. But we were very worried about the wind. In summer the wind out there gets very boisterous. We were afraid that the whole thing would get blown over and then we would be in Apocalypse Now land. So we decided to shift that out of actual production into CG production. That was a tremendous shift. We made the decision quite late not to shoot for real and so it was something that we were constantly running to catch up with. We always knew that there would be huge SFGX things with the dagger. That was quite clear. But several times what we did was to come out squeaky clean from the physical production by loading on to the CG side of the production. So we were constantly sprinting to catch up.
QUESTION: What is it like making a big film like Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time?
MIKE NEWELL: Making a movie like this is like being the Chief Executive of the Ford Motor Corporation. They bring you stuff and say these are our plans for next summer’s SUV. You say can we have it in blue? They reply of course, whatever color you like. And so on. You can see the analogy. These films are so huge that there are two other directors – the second unit director and the visual effects supervisor. The whole thing about what happens when you press the button on the dagger came from one of the visual effects houses in London. They showed us tests and we thought it was terrific.
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME Available on DVD and Blu-ray 9/14/10
QUESTION: Did you reference old films like Korda’s The Thief Of Bagdad as you were making Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time?
MIKE NEWELL: I thought about movies that I had seen as a child, though The Thief Of Bagdad wasn’t one of them. But I did think about big cowboy movies that I had seen and obviously the movies of David Lean. With a film like this you know you are doing a genre which is called Bruckheimer and that takes a big canvas to produce and I was very aware of that.
QUESTION: Why did you film in Morocco at a time of the year that everyone advised against going there?
MIKE NEWELL: I’m afraid that is simply how the movies work. If you are going to do a film about the South Pole, the chances are that you will film it in Hawaii! Whatever is most difficult, you will get to do. That is just when everything happened. It was very hot! Some days it was 135 degrees! But it is very dry and so, you lose a lot of weight, which is good. Wet heat is what is exhausting and so I was fine. Also, it must be said, sometimes up in the mountains, we had absolutely torrential rain. Really serious rain, where we had to watch out for water courses getting washed away.
QUESTION: You never used rain in the movie. So did you stop when the weather got bad?
MIKE NEWELL: Yes, we stopped. And we stopped in vast confusion and disorganization – because nobody said it was going to rain! We simply weren’t prepared for it.
QUESTION: How hard was it to adapt the movie from a video game?
MIKE NEWELL: Jordan Mechner [creator of the video game and film scriptwriter] got on very well indeed. The reason was that he was the man who wrote the game and did the first graphic novel, and he is a research freak. He absolutely loves the ancient world and he loves doing his research. So there would be stuff in the story, which would be absolutely authentic – and I enjoyed that very much. It meant that I did not feel overwhelmed by the video game. Jerry Bruckheimer and I talked a lot about what our attitude to the game should be. Were we making the game or were we making a drama? Very clearly we said that we were making a drama. Then what happened was that during the making of the film, we became aware of at least one other new version of the game, which was much more visually sophisticated. I looked at that and I took some moves from that. The other big thing that we decided was that he had to be an action hero. But what were the seeds of what the character in the game does? What we discovered was that what it was about was this thing called parkour. Parkour was developed by the kids in the French housing estates. They would run up walls! So we watched tapes of this very dramatic stuff. In certain moves they do appear to be able to defy gravity…in just the way that the character in the game does. So the parkour people advised us in all sorts of ways. Like for the big sequence where Jake attacks the gate. They choreographed some of that for us, which was very useful. So there was a kind of overlap between parkour, the game and the making of a great big romantic widescreen experience. That was how it came together.
QUESTION: One of the film’s strengths is the comic banter, which seems like The Princess Bride?
MIKE NEWELL: The Princess Bride was one of the films we watched and were aware of. One of the reasons I wanted to make this film is that it is this new genre and Jerry [Bruckheimer] is a genre now. He does what he does. He is Pirates Of The Caribbean and The Rock and Bruce Willis going to defend the world from a crashing meteor. It is always a rich, high coloured mixture. I liked that a lot about the script. I liked that it was funny. I very much enjoy doing that stuff. Fred (Alfred Molina) and I had worked together before and I knew he would be wonderful. Then you do have that uneasy Beatrice and Benedict relationship between the boy and the girl where they absolutely loathe one another and then little by little they fall in love. So what you are doing is to make this great big collage of all sorts of things. It is no one movie. It is an entertainment.
QUESTION: The casting of Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton was crucial?
MIKE NEWELL: Yes. Jerry was very generous about that. He asked who I wanted and I told him very clearly that I had always thought about Jake. I wanted him to be American because this was a huge budget movie and the Americans deserve to see their own. At the same time I was encouraged to cast English. I was thinking about going to Bollywood for the girl. I saw a lot of Bollywood actresses. I saw a couple of sensational Iranian actress, an Israeli actress or two. I wanted a kind of exotic look. Then up pops Gemma Arterton from Gravesend, England and she was the one I settled on. I felt very strongly about both leads. Jerry saw them and agreed.
QUESTION: Ben Kingsley is a great villain. Had your paths crossed early in your careers when you both worked on the Uk TV soap, Coronation Street?
MIKE NEWELL: Apparently they did. Neither of us can really remember. But it was about the time that we were both working on the Street. I thought of him for this film because of films like Sexy Beast. I wanted somebody who would be believable as a good guy and would turn out to have this appalling second existence as the bad guy. So it was Gandhi on the one hand and Sexy Beast on the other. He was terrific. He puts out his hand and pulls the kid on to the horse and everything is going to be fine from that moment on. You trust him. Then you discover you must not trust him. I said to him that there were always going to be two movies. The movie that we were making and then the movie that his character was making, which was going to be different. And the one movie would twine round the other.
QUESTION: How did you work the balance between actual filming and the CGI effects?
MIKE NEWELL: This is the second time I have done one of these great big live action versus CG movies. We were in Morocco at the wrong time of the year and people were terrified that we would start to get sick, they were terrified that the level of competence that we would find out there was not as great as we needed. It was in fact superlatively more than we needed. They are really good at what they do out there. They were also afraid that we would get behind, that Morocco would turn into a swamp out of which we could clamber. It did not do that, by virtue of us removing certain sequences out of Morocco and putting them into stages in England. The biggest of those was the attack on the Eastern Gate. Originally we were going to build that part of the city in Morocco and we would then, with CG, have grafted the rest of the city all around it. I can see the magnificent location in my head right now. But we were very worried about the wind. In summer the wind out there gets very boisterous. We were afraid that the whole thing would get blown over and then we would be in Apocalypse Now land. So we decided to shift that out of actual production into CG production. That was a tremendous shift. We made the decision quite late not to shoot for real and so it was something that we were constantly running to catch up with. We always knew that there would be huge SFGX things with the dagger. That was quite clear. But several times what we did was to come out squeaky clean from the physical production by loading on to the CG side of the production. So we were constantly sprinting to catch up.
QUESTION: What is it like making a big film like Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time?
MIKE NEWELL: Making a movie like this is like being the Chief Executive of the Ford Motor Corporation. They bring you stuff and say these are our plans for next summer’s SUV. You say can we have it in blue? They reply of course, whatever color you like. And so on. You can see the analogy. These films are so huge that there are two other directors – the second unit director and the visual effects supervisor. The whole thing about what happens when you press the button on the dagger came from one of the visual effects houses in London. They showed us tests and we thought it was terrific.
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME Available on DVD and Blu-ray 9/14/10
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