No 3D treatment for new Harry Potter movie

So how does everyone feel about the 3D phenomenon? Is anyone well over that fad yet?

I must say I breathed a sigh of relief after finding out that the new Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, has been spared from the 3D format…only to discover that this was simply because the movie couldn’t be converted in that format in time and that the second part will be released in 3D.

Source: Warner Brothers Entertainment

Oh well.

This article from The Sydney Morning Herald successfully captivates readers’ attention from the get-go with a catchy headline: “No new dimension to new Harry Potter movie”.

Mentioning Harry Potter in the headline certainly stimulates the interest of most people as it is something we’re all familiar with. However, if you don’t know who Harry Potter is, you should be shunned by society! Well not really…but seriously if you haven’t, not too sure where you’ve been hiding.

Also, who here doesn’t like Harry Potter? Perhaps some of the acting has put you off a little but I’m sure many of you out there are fans of at least the books! Moreover, 3D is still a relatively “warm” topic that readers would still want to read about it.

With Harry Potter 7 Part 1 set to be internationally released on November 18 (November 19 is for the UK and the US), this news comes at a timely juncture.

Also, this piece of information is indeed new (and a little odd I suppose) because many have assumed it would definitely be released in 3D. Disappointing news for some, but great news for others (like me!).

I have to say this was well played by Warner Brothers Entertainment because, as mentioned in the article, had they generated a rushed and Clash of the Titans-like 3D version of the movie, this would have a negative impact on the audience – um who wants their cinematic experience butchered by some dodgy 3D conversion?

There are great expectations from this movie and great anticipation building as people are eager to see what is to become of Harry (even if they might have already read the last book, or not). If many of you are like me and have grown up with the series, you’ve probably become emotionally attached to the ingenious and wonderful world of Hogwarts. A world that J.K. Rowling has so kindly shared with us.

We can also see that the inverted pyramid format is clearly used to reveal in order of importance the most important details of the news: from Harry Potter 7 Part 1 not being released in 3D to seeing “next year…a 3D re-release of Star Wars”. The quotes selected are also credible and support what’s been said.

In terms of layout, the provision of the movie's second trailer is very effective in retaining more people to the page. It definitely works better than having a still image instead. People can then make their own opinion on whether Harry Potter will benefit or not from the 3D format. The comments feature is also great in encouraging readers to join in the conversation and give their two cents.

Facebook movie’s screenwriter Aaron Sorkin hates the net

Facebook, Facebook, Facebook!

Facebook is everywhere. I mean who doesn’t have a Facebook (or should I say ‘fb’) these days? Plus, it’s always in the news, don’t you think?

This isn’t surprising though because it’s something so enormous and influential that it was inevitable that the social network would receive the Hollywood treatment.

Source: Gamer Poop

While the movie, titled The Social Network, has so far been mostly well received, it has also copped a lot for its portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

However, blogger Jeff Jarvis points out in Shane Richmond’s article that the real issue is the movie’s dismissal of “all this Internet stuff” where it’s alleged that the movie’s screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, hates the Internet. 

And it is this issue that drives Richmond’s post.

Its headline draws us in immediately as it’s straightforward. What is particularly interesting is the paradox that he uses. I mean, why would someone who doesn’t like the internet, write a screenplay for a movie on online media?

A little strange perhaps but the headline’s ambiguity is what draws readers in as they feel compelled to investigate this piece of information. Well, dunno about you but it certainly peaked my interest.

While the start of the article is nothing out of the ordinary, the author cleverly maintains our attention by throwing at us the film’s “big name creators” – Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing and A Few Good Men) and David Fincher (Seven and Fight Club).

The Social Network movie poster. Source: MTV

The short length of the post is also effective in addressing (and alleviating!) the readers’ (short) attention span. Moreover, juxtaposing the words ‘500 MILLION FRIENDS’ in the cropped image (of the movie poster) and the words “a lonely nerd” in the sentence above it is ab-so-lu-te-ly brilliant! 

In terms of sources, the use of two and the provision of their original links, provide credibility, open up discussion and encourage you to form your own opinions. In other words this topic is highly debatable and that’s what makes Richmond’s post all the more interesting.

Sorkin’s first quote – “There’s just too much bad information getting out there and…that’s mostly the fault of the Internet, which isn’t held to any standards of accuracy” – was well selected as it indirectly invites us to join the conversation in the comment box provided.

What’s even greater is that, because it concerns Facebook, ANYONE can join the conversation. This ‘online story on an online social media’ reaches an extensive audience from all around the globe.

…Now is there any chance for a Twitter movie? Anyone?

LENNONYC: Not just another John Lennon film

Source: TopNews

In my previous post, I was right to say that biopics of musical legends will never become ‘out of fashion’. There’s something fascinating about watching the lives of those you admire unfold before your eyes. You get the chance to live their “moment” and personally discover the kind of person they were.

This time the music legend is John Lennon! But wait, hasn’t the life of the former Beatle already been told before…say countless times?

Being a huge Beatles fan, this article certainly caught my attention but I was very wary about reading what this upcoming movie has to offer. However, Ellen Wulfhorst assures us that the latest John Lennon film to be released, titled LENNONYC, stands out from the other ‘nth’ movies that were made about his life. 

She successfully captures our attention from the start by acknowledging that, indeed, “so much has been told about the Beatles that director Michael Epstein knew he needed to say something different…”

Wulfhorst connects with us by voicing, and not dismissing, what we would all think upon hearing a new Lennon movie is to be released: ‘What? Another movie about him?’. She would have bored us had she started like this: ‘A new John Lennon movie will be released…’  

She clearly mentions in order of importance the information that is relevant to her news: Epstein’s focus on Lennon’s immigration to America, the use of previously unreleased audio tapes and his infamous ‘lost weekend’. And what I’m most curious about that ‘long weekend’ is how that’s been portrayed in the film. Many films, such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono: A Love Story, have incorrectly represented May Pang, Lennon’s girlfriend when he and Yoko Ono separated. That could be controversial.

This news comes at a timely juncture with events commemorating what would be Lennon’s 70th birthday on October 9, and the US release of the film Nowhere Boy (a film about Lennon’s adolescence and the Beatles’ formation) on October 8.

Actor Aaron Johnson as John Lennon in Nowhere Boy. Source: Rama's Screen

It will certainly have great impact as people – young and old – are still moved and influenced by Lennon’s artistry today. It would also be emotional as the film builds up to his death.

What’s uncertain though is whether this movie will be released worldwide. It will be a shame if this will only be shown in America. However, thanks to the internet and “legal” downloading, people all over the world would be able to access it.

The story might have been interesting but one of its drawbacks was the lack of images. Furthermore, while links were provided throughout the story, it would have been more beneficial to provide direct links to related stories as a means of credibility and for further reading.

Sacha Baron Cohen to play Freddie Mercury

The show must go on for Freddie Mercury. And it has…or should I say, it will.

But how, you may ask? Queen fans, brace yourself.

According to Luke Buckmaster’s article, a biopic on one of the greatest rock bands of all time is in the works. Yep, unlike Joaquin Phoenix’ mockumentary I’m Still Here, Queen’s biopic will be indeed about the band. No hoax. 

The author successfully informs readers everything there is to know at this stage about the upcoming film. Of particular interest is Borat actor Sacha Baron Cohen signing on to portray the band’s theatrical frontman Freddie Mercury. And boy does he have big (if not humongous) shoes to fill!

Can Cohen pull it off? Source: Perfectpeople (left), Crikey (right)

This is exciting news, particularly for die-hard Queen fans. And while most agree Cohen looks the part, this does not guarantee the movie’s success. What could be controversial is the way Mercury will be portrayed. How accurately will Cohen be? The singing could also prove problematic (remember Pierce Brosnan's singing in Mama Mia! ?).

I’m hoping that the movie will successfully convey the way Queen and particularly Mercury have touched and moved so many people with their music. The impact the band has had globally is still evident. Need proof? Check out the comments made to some of their YouTube videos.

I might be bias, but their music was incredible and so was Mercury’s voice. Aside from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Love Of My Life’ remains one of my fave songs. Poignant and simply beautiful.

Back to the biopic though, what might come across as a little unusual is the fact that it will be penned by Peter Morgan, who has mainly written non-fiction political dramas including The Queen, The Special Relationship and The Last King Of Scotland.

Regarding the article, the author successfully uses the inverted pyramid structure. His casual tone engages readers as he shares his news with us, and despite his informality, he remains factual by providing a credible source to these facts – GK Films. Moreover, the inclusion of a snippet from the GK Films press release cements the article’s credibility.

In terms of graphics, the accompanying photoshopped image definitely helps the audience to physically visualise Cohen as Mercury, supporting Buckmaster’s claim. Perhaps if the author wanted to emphasise on their likeness, he should have instead included images of both Mercury and Cohen and compared them side by side.

This news comes at a timely time as it appears that biopics of music artists are becoming a trend, with the release of The Runaways, I’m Not There and La Vie en Rose, and upcoming biopics on Tupac Shakur, Aretha Franklin and as mentioned in an earlier post, Justin Bieber. In my opinion though, biopics will never be "out of fashion".

And while we are on the subject of biopics of music legends, how long do you think till someone suggests writing a biopic on Michael Jackson? That would surely be interesting.

Justin Long: from Hollywood to porn industry?

Any recognised actor or actress who would consider turning their backs from the Hollywood industry to try their hand at porn sure sounds ludicrous. Controversial even.

But that is what actor Justin Long (below) is allegedly inspiring to do, as disclosed in Andrew Murfett’s article.

Source: Zimbio

This “…startling admission about his future”, although cleverly stated in the headline, is not revealed at the start but at the end of the article. One would expect the headline to be elaborated on within the first few paragraphs of the article, however it appears that the author is more interested in discussing Long’s on and off relationship with Drew Barrymore and his new movie Going The Distance first rather than divulging the rather unusual piece of information.

Drew Barrymore and Justin Long in a scene from their film Going The Distance. Source: Zimbio

Yet it is understandable why Murfett has written in this manner. Had he mentioned it straight up, the article would have been short, pretty straightforward and let’s face it, a little boring. Moreover, mentioning their relationship and the movie itself draws readers in as most individuals are able to relate to a certain degree to some of the ups and downs of relationships. It may then be interesting to compare the article with Francis Kindon’s short and matter of fact piece. Which is more effective?

Although this article may not follow the traditional ‘inverted pyramid’ structure of a news article, it engages readers as it gradually builds up to the ‘big news’. By extension because it is soft news, it allows the author to be a little humorous and somewhat witty.

And indeed, it is comments suggesting them “making out between takes” that animate the story (guess sex – or anything suggesting it – does sell). The image of the pair is also essential in helping readers connect to the content of the story.

Murfett’s story appears to be a cross between a news article and a film review. The embedded video – a visual and aural review of the film – complements the author’s review and allows readers to get a taste of what the movie is about.

Although the video contains relevant information, its major drawback lies in the inclusion of two other movie reviews – movies that have nothing to do with the actor. Why couldn’t they edit it?! It would have been more effective than wasting 90 seconds of our time (sorry, 105 seconds actually...don't you love those ads that precede the actual video and CANNOT be skipped!), wondering where exactly Tomorrow When The War Began fits in the story.

'Life in a Day': citizen journalism at its best?

Source: Overallsite

If you haven’t heard of YouTube's ‘Life in a Day’ project by now, where have you been? Seriously.

For those who really haven’t, no need to worry because Jeremy Scott’s article gives you the low down on the project. Additionally, the embedded trailer is an effective way for those who are foreign to the project to find out what the excitement is all about.

For those who have, don’t worry either, this article is no waste of time as it provides a significant update on the project’s progress.

‘Life in a Day’ is thrilling, exciting and everything in between. And for a number of good reasons, we understand why Scott still finds it definitely worth talking about even two months after its launch.

Firstly, it is HUGE – a worldwide venture that has been made possible by YouTube. The task was simple: YouTube users were given 24 hours to capture a slice of their life on camera on July 24 (yep, that easy).

Secondly, it has never been done before. If it’s successful, it will become the “world’s first feature-length user-generated documentary” (Connelly 2010) to “…document one day, as seen through the eyes of people around the world” (Partridge 2010).

The real beauty about this project is that it was open to everybody and moreover, it didn’t require users to possess any technical ability to participate. No wonder this project has made the impact it has with over 80,000 video submissions from 197 countries (with many having been released online now).

YouTube users’ close involvement and participation in the project have also demonstrated a new level of citizen journalism. Willingly showcasing a glimpse of their lives is also an intentional means of reporting.

Lastly, the individuals attached to the project are none other than Gladiator director Ridley Scott and Last King of Scotland director Kevin MacDonald – two award-winning filmmakers. Guess their prominence reassures us this project is in good hands.

Kevin MacDonald (left) and Ridley Scott (right). Source: NYDailyNews.com

 

This is no typical news article. Scott successfully weaves fact and opinion together and while his fondness for the project shows, his comments are always constructive. The images included are also used to illustrate his remarks and give readers a ‘visual’ taste of how they can interact with all the video submissions that have been released so far.

One of the interactive ways of viewing the video gallery. Source: lifeinaday, YouTube

In concurrence with Scott, it has been great to see how YouTube has pushed the “envelope on what their service can be used for”. Do you agree? With projects like ‘Project: Report’, channels such as ‘CitizenTube’ and tools including ‘YouTube Direct’, it’s exciting to speculate what will be thought of next…

How we know Reese Witherspoon is looking stunning...

…Well from Sophie Forbes’ article of course. Thanks Mail Online. But is this relevant? I’m afraid not.  

Witherspoon looking 'stunning'. Source: Mail Online 

While it is understandable that this article was written for the sole purpose of promoting Witherspoon’s upcoming movie How Do You Know, the headline has no significant relation to the content and comes across as a little opinionated.

Granted, the subject is new, but whether Forbes is right or not about Witherspoon’s looks, it is not a place for the author to make such claim (a small but still biased claim, mind you!) and include it in her article (sorry Sophie, but not too sure if everyone will find her “beautiful in clips from the movie” even if she is looking good).

The rest of the article is nothing too unusual, covering novel and (slightly) more relevant information such as the encounter between Witherspoon’s children with Robert Pattinson and two of her other upcoming movies.

Perhaps it would have been more interesting to know whether the movie will be a success or a flop – similarly to how The Guardian covered it (however that story is a blog post and not a news story, essentially welcoming opinion).

And maybe it would have been more relevant if the story actually focused on the movie for more than four sentences.

Or even better…if it dug up controversial information surrounding the movie – something as ridiculous and untrue as the actress living out the storyline of her movie and having to choose between her real beau Jim Toth and say Jack Nicholson or the movie’s director James L. Brooks.

Anyway, this article is more pointless than informative. It creates little impact.

Yes, Witherspoon may be a famous and prominent figure in Hollywood but even her status can’t drive this story. If only Forbes had used Pattenson’s name in the headline, it would have created more traffic.

Nonetheless, the use of links, images and the movie’s official trailer allows the audience to engage with this short and sweet article, making it more entertaining. The story is also somewhat current with Witherspoon having previously appeared in the news regarding her relationship with Toth around the time the article was written.