In his books, The Film That Changed My Life and The Best Film You’ve Never Seen, American journalist and teacher, Robert K Elder offers some suggestions.

The Film That Changed My Life provides 30 directors sharing thoughts on their first encounter with the film that inspired them to direct movies. Spanning several generations – from relative newcomers to Oscar Award-winning veterans – these are inspired and inspiring discussions of classic films that shaped the careers of today’s directors and, in turn, cinema history.

The Best Film You’ve Never Seen is not only a guide to some overlooked movies but a bold attempt to rewrite film history by 35 directors who recommend what they consider to be underappreciated films. They each champion their favourite overlooked or critically savaged hidden gem.

Both these books offer some perspectives on what makes a “classic” film beyond the regular “Best of” lists with thoughtful, personal reflections. 

The post Films You’ve Never Seen That Might Change Your Life appeared first on Biz Books.

Film Details

Michael Stone, husband, father and respected author of “How May I Help You Help Them?” is a man crippled by the mundanity of his life. On a business trip to Cincinnati, where he’s scheduled to speak at a convention of customer service professionals, he checks into the Fregoli Hotel. There, he is amazed to discover a possible escape from his desperation in the form of an unassuming Akron baked goods sales rep, Lisa, who may or may not be the love of his life. A beautifully tender and absurdly humorous dreamscape, from the brilliant minds of Charlie Kaufman (Synecdoche, New York) and Duke Johnson (Community episode, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”), this stop-motion animation wonder features the vocal cast of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan and David Thewlis and a stirring strings-based score by Carter Burwell.  The darkly comedic and surreal stop-motion journey of a man’s long night of the soul, Anomalisa confirms Charlie Kaufman’s place amongst the most important of American filmmakers, and announces Duke Johnson as a major creative force.

In select theatres January 15th, 2016.

Anomalisa.com

Screening Details

Date: Thursday, January 14th, 2015

Theatre: Fifth Avenue Cinemas

*you must be 19 years of age or older for admittance to this theatre

Time: 7pm

How to Enter

Please send an e-mail to info@bizbooks.net and please include this information:

• Your Name

• Your E-mail Address

• Your Phone Number

• “Anomalisa Movie Contest” in the subject line

Winners will be selected at random and will be contacted by e-mail.

Recommended Reading You Can Act On Camera Click a cover for more details The Art of Voice Acting Secrets of Screen Acting Recommended Reading You Can Act On Camera Click a cover for more details The Art of Voice Acting Secrets of Screen Acting

The post Anomalisa Movie Contest appeared first on Biz Books.

As Christopher Chacon has a strong reputation as a valuable consultant on horror films, we spoke to him to find out more about his work and what horror films can do to “get it right” when it comes to films that explore paranormal themes.

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Can you start by telling us a little bit about you and what you are working on right now?

I am a writer/producer/director for TV, film and theatre. In addition to my work in the entertainment industry, I am also an anomalist/parapsychological researcher and scientific investigator/researcher of paranormal and supernatural phenomena, including the occult/metaphysics. Though my work dealing with phenomena is very confidential and entirely separate from the entertainment industry, I am able to apply my experiences and perspectives into that world to whatever projects I might be working on. As far as what I’m working on; I’m constantly developing new ideas and concepts in film and TV, way too many to mention here, some of my own creations, fact-based and fictional, and several that belong to other showrunners/screenwriters that have brought me onboard to collaborate.

How did you first develop an interest in the paranormal?

It wasn’t my original intent to investigate and explore paranormal phenomena, especially to this degree for this long. I was paying my way through college as a magician/illusionist and was approached by a family that wanted answers to the alleged haunt phenomenon keeping them up at night. After assisting them with their situation, word got out and more people approached me regarding their unexplainable encounters. Soon I was dealing with all types of complaints of poltergeists, psychic phenomena and UFO close encounters, just to name a few. A dozen cases turned into a several dozen, which lead me to embracing the parapsychological method for investigating cases, collaborating with a Parapsychologist. After many years of that, I was then recruited to work with a private scientific think tank, trained as an anomalist and investigated thousands of cases all over the world with an army of scientists and state-of-the-art technology. Since leaving that organization, I have been privately consulting (at gratis) for the last dozen or so years. All in all now dealing with these phenomena for about 30 years.

What is the biggest misconception about people who are involved in the paranormal field?

That everyone in this field blindly believes in the paranormal. The beliefs of those in this field run from one end of the spectrum to the other, from hardcore skeptics to, yes, those who blindly believe in everything. If I had to be placed on that spectrum, I would probably fall somewhere in the middle, though my personal belief system in dealing with these phenomena is a bit of a hybrid due to the nature and variety of extreme life experiences and training that I’ve been fortunate/unfortunate enough to have encountered in this field. And because the term “paranormal” encompasses anything that is outside of mainstream scientific understanding (including everything from parapsychology to cryptozoology, from UFO/alien close encounters to possession), the field is filled with an unlimited array of individuals and groups, from academic scholars to arm-chair researchers, each of which possess their own approach, typically as a result of their own personal belief system.

In your opinion, what do filmmakers need to do to accurately portray paranormal themes in their films?

The dynamics and laws of most paranormal phenomena, if not all of it, are not anywhere near as certain and established as, let’s say, space-travel and the laws of physics associated with it. If someone is doing a film about a deep-space journey for example, there’s a good deal of established knowledge that the writer and/or director can draw off of to ensure that the laws of physics and space are followed and keep the world they are depicting as real and tangible as possible. However for the majority of paranormal phenomena, many of the paradigms assumed to be accurate are not the case whatsoever, with depictions in film and media perpetuating these misnomers. Taking into account thousands of cases from around the world (different cultures, different environments, etc.), over the course of dozens of years, the actual phenomena taking place and being experienced would defy most presumed expectations. Therefore, even if a story’s phenomenon is closely based on long-held archetypes, it most likely is inaccurate to some degree. That being said, whether the writer is depicting a known phenomenon or inventing one, I feel the most important way of accurately portraying it would be to simply keep-true to the rules of the phenomena throughout the story, be it rules that are made up or borrowing rules from some long-held beliefs.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

What are some examples of films that you feel “get it right” when it comes to paranormal themed-stories? 

The films that come to mind are “The Exorcist”, “Poltergeist” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. Not necessarily because the phenomenon is being accurately portrayed (though they got it pretty darn close), but because of the manner in which the characters react to the phenomena (during and after).

Why have films about the paranormal remained high in popularity?

Paranormal-themed films have continued to be popular for a variety of reasons including; how they tie into our belief system (someone who believes and wants validation, someone who isn’t sure but craves to believe, etc.), how they can propel you into a world of complete uncertainty right in the safety of your theatre seat and the thrill of possibility when you realize there is so much we do not know, just to name three. Considering western-thinking that is often overly skeptical, easily dismissive and stripped of possibility, a film that makes what is thought to be impossible, very real, offers the ultimate escape. Of course phenomenal story-telling must also be considered; The imaginations of brilliant writers and directors that create compelling characters and tangible situations that we identify with is mandatory to breathe life into any paranormal story, no matter what the phenomenon.

What books have been influential in your career?

If referring to my “career” as an anomalist/parapsychological investigator, I’d have to say not many. It was the actual experiences (investigations, research, expeditions, etc.) in the field, in the real world, that has influenced me the most. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE BOOKS and have been known to spend hours, upon hours in bookstores and libraries, and am a fan of all types of books across the spectrum. On that note, if you are referring to my work in the entertainment industry as a writer/producer, I love books that expand my imagination and challenge my thinking, from Dan Brown novels like Dante’s Inferno to Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Where can people find out more about you?

Because of the nature of my work dealing with phenomena and to accommodate clients, I’ve maintained a low profile for many years. As such, I’ve never bothered to create a source to offer more information about myself. If there is indeed an interest in finding out more about me, perhaps I should start looking into the best way of doing that.

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Our thanks to Christopher Chacon for speaking with us!

For more information about Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, please visit ParanormalMovie.com.

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The post The Biz Interview: Christopher Chacon appeared first on Biz Books.

Film Details

In 1947, the long-retired Sherlock Holmes, aged 93, lives in a remote Sussex farmhouse with his housekeeper, Mrs. Munro, and her young son, Roger. Holmes reflects on his life while writing in his journals, tending to his bees, and dealing with the deterioration of his once incredible mind. The film, like the novel, uses flashbacks to reveal events of the past, when he was still at the height of his fame and mental ability at his Baker Street consulting rooms, and during a visit to Japan.

In theatres July 17th, 2015.

MrHolmesFilm.com

Screening Details

Date: Thursday, July 2nd, 2015

Theatre: Cineplex Odeon International Village

Time: 7pm

How to Enter

Please send an e-mail to info@bizbooks.net and please include this information:

• Your Name

• Your E-mail Address

• Your Phone Number

• “Mr. Holmes Movie Contest” in the subject line

Winners will be selected at random and will be contacted by e-mail.

Recommended Reading You Can Act On Camera Click a cover for more details The Art of Voice Acting Secrets of Screen Acting Recommended Reading You Can Act On Camera Click a cover for more details The Art of Voice Acting Secrets of Screen Acting

The post Mr. Holmes Movie Contest appeared first on Biz Books.