Tron Legacy Sequel

          Although many people thought that Tron Legacy was not as good as the first Tron, it actually did rather well. It managed to haul in $400 million worth of revenue worldwide. A sequel was already in the works as Tron Legacy was finished. However, David DiGilio decided to take over script duties. Therefore, Jesse Wigutow's decided that he would give the sequel a try. Wigutow has worked with Disney and just previously wrote It Runs in the Family. Right now, he's calling the sequel Tron 3. The director for Tron Legacy, Joseph Kosinski, is still to work on the sequel.

          The mention of a sequel to Tron Legacy caught my eye to the article. I have actually watched the film and thought it was pretty decent. The friends I went with to go watch the movie were absolutely enamored, while I was not as enthusiastic. I just thought that the film did not live up to the expectations I had from the trailers. I was surprised to see that they have decided to make a sequel for it, considering so many other people were complaining about how the first Tron movie was so much better.

          As a student, I realize that not all expectations can be met. Disney must have expected Tron Legacy to fair much better that it actually did and that it would have a more positive response. However, it seems that Disney is still trying to attain that expectation by making a sequel for the film. I feel like the sequel has no place. Tron Legacy would be better left by itself. As a future filmmaker, I realize that I have all opportunities to make sequels for any movie I produce. On the other hand, I also realize that I should not force sequels onto my consumers simply for the sake of extending a franchise that is better left with only one film. As a consumer, I have decided that I probably will not bother to watch Tron 3. It seems like just a waste of time. When I watched Tron Legacy, I felt like I just wasted my money, also because I bought a 3D IMAX ticket to watch the film. It definitely was not worth the $15 - $20 I spent.

          I am worried to see that more studios, such as Disney, will continue to force unnecessary sequels to its consumers. There are some film franchises that get better and better as each sequel is added, such as Harry Potter, but there as also some film franchises that just worse as its extended, such as Transformers. I do not think it is worth making sequels just for the sake of money. I would rather keep my film the way it is. I would not run the risk of ruining my film with an unnecessary sequel.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35939

Another Cinderella Story

          After its success in the remake of the classic Alice in Wonderland, Disney has decided to continue upon the same path. Disney is already under the process of making its own twist upon Sleeping Beauty's Maleficent and it is now in the talks of a twist upon the classic tale of Cinderella. Cate Blanchett is one of the actresses in negotiation to play Cinderella's evil stepmother. There have been no confirmations about what the twist will entail, but a script is apparently in the works. According to the article, the evil stepmother may become the heroine of the film rather than Cinderella.

          The article caught my eye because I figured that another remake of Cinderella was going to be made. After all, what other classic is well-known for its evil stepmother? The tale of Cinderella is a story that has been retold countless of times, usually placed in a more modern situation. This time around, it seems that Disney is going to completely twist the main premise of the original classic. If Disney pulls it off, it just might make the world look at Cinderella's evil stepmother in a better light.

          As a student, I am inspired to re-imagine common ideas. There's no originality in just retelling a story in a modern way. However, when you twist the story and make the villain the hero, then you get some originality. As a student, I love to write. When I write my stories, I like to make them my own rather than following the footsteps of the original writer. As a filmmaker, I learn that there are endless possibilities. I have the option to adapt an idea into my own interpretation of it. In fact, there are several classic films that I would love to retell in my own way. As a consumer, I am slightly disappointed because Cinderella has been way too overdone. I've seen so many different adaptations to it. If Disney wants to impress me, its twist on the classic tale must be extremely sensational.

          Will Disney continue to remake more classic films? It seems as though this is the direction Disney is heading. With The Rise of the Guardians and Alice in Wonderland, Disney is just building upon characters that already exist. Yes, it puts its own twist into the characters but soon enough, consumers are going to want more new ideas. I guess its harder to make the audience love new characters rather than characters that they already know and love.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35870

Pinocchio

          Warner Bros. has decided to take on a new version of the classic Pinocchio. It is trying to convince both Tim Burton and Robert Downey Jr. to direct the movie and star in the movie, respectively. The two have been thinking about what their roles might be in the film since January 2012. The studio is also hoping to get Jane Goldman, who has worked with The Woman in Black and X-Men: First Class, to rewrite the script. It has been said that Goldman has taken into account Robert Downey Jr.'s input about the script, in hopes of convincing him to join the film.

          Honestly, five words attracted me to the article: Robert Downey Jr. and Tim Burton. A better pair could not have been more attractive. Robert Downey Jr. has to be my most favorite actor. He does so well in every single film he does, whether it's Sherlock Holmes or Iron Man. Tim Burton is a great visionary and any film he directs is sure to be a hit. If the two do decide to work together, I have very high expectations for the film.

          As a student, I learn that at some point in life, I'm going to have to work with people I've never worked before. I have never heard of a Robert Downey Jr. and Tim Burton pairing. Ever. Usually, Burton works with the likes of Johnny Depp. It would be interesting how their pairing would work. As a future filmmaker, the article teaches me that if I want an amazing film, I'm going to need an amazing director and amazing actors. Downey Jr. has proven himself to be a great liar in all his films. He fits the part of Pinocchio so well. Burton, on the other hand, can definitely turn Pinocchio into a more twisted, modern version of the classic. As a consumer, I am very excited to see where this pairing is going to go. I absolutely expect the best from the two known people in the film industry. There is no doubt that the film would be a success, given that the Burton and Downey Jr. would accept their roles.

          For the industry, I think it is good that those who have never worked before are starting to work together. Obviously, Burton and Downey Jr. haven't necessarily confirmed to work with Goldman, but either way, at least they're flirting with the idea of it. It is great that Burton and Depp have great chemistry and that they almost always go hand in hand in all films. However, I feel that Burton needs to reach out to different types of actors and Downey Jr. is a good place to start. I really do wish that Burton and Downey Jr. would already confirm to work with Goldman.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/feed.asp?NID=35798

Warm Bodies

          Isaac Marion's novel, Warm Bodies, is to hit theaters on February 1, 2013. Because the zombie business is rising, there are very high hopes for this film. Warm Bodies features your typical zombies, yet they're not so typical. As the story progresses, the zombies begin curing themselves and it all starts with the main character, R, played by Nicholas Hoult. He meets a girl, Julia, played by Teresa Palmer, and falls in love with her. His love for her is the reason why he's starting to cure himself. Slowly, the cure begins to spread among the other zombies.

          The article's summary attracted me to it. I saw that there were zombies involved and I immediately clicked on it. I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead. Because of the TV series, I've grown fond of many zombie-related pieces. I've never really heard of the Warm Bodies novel, but now, I'm interested in getting a copy of the book and reading it. In the article, it is mentioned that the novel has a humorous tone, and by watching the trailer, I can tell that the film itself will follow the novel.

          As a student, I am encouraged to read the novel. You can never read enough books. Sometimes, it takes films such as Warm Bodies to inform us about books that are good enough to make it on the big screen. As a future filmmaker, I am affected because it does seem like more and more books are being adapted into films. Nowadays, it seems like so many films are being based off of books. Admittedly, I've always wanted to make a book-adapted film. As an avid reader, I often imagine the book in my head as I read. I want that visual to come to life. As a consumer, I am affected because I've wanted more zombie pieces to come out that could rival The Walking Dead. In my opinion, no other piece has been able to achieve that. I expect Warm Bodies to be as great as the trailer makes it seem to be.

          A question the article raises for me is, "Will the film industry continue to adapt books into films?" Don't get me wrong, I love it when books are adapted into films. However, there are two sides to those feelings. On one hand, I love that I finally have a visual to go along with the novel, but on the other hand, most films stray from the original ideas of the novel. If the industry continues to adapt more novels, I feel that more effort should be placed on trying to keep the film true to the novel.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35722

Francis Lawrence to Direct Mockingjay

          Gary Ross, the director for The Hunger Games, has decided that he will not be doing Catching Fire. Francis Lawrence was quick to jump on The Hunger Games wagon and is already currently filming Catching Fire. He has also already signed to direct and film the two Mockingjay films. Catching Fire is set to be released on November 22, 2013. Part 1 of Mockingjay will open up on November 14, 2014 and Part 2 on November 20, 2015. The report is legitimate and has been confirmed by Lionsgate.

          What really caught my eye to the article was the mention of Mockingjay. I am a huge fan of The Hunger Games Series. I read the books way before a movie was even announced and way before it became such a huge hype world wide. I was pleased with The Hunger Games when I watched it. I desperately hoped that the film would not ruin the books for me, and I am glad that it didn't. I actually think it is one of the best adapted films I have ever seen. Because of The Hunger Games, I have very high expectations for the rest of the series.

          As a student, I am affected because The Hunger Games is a book series that it actually banned in several areas in the world. I guess some areas just think that the series does not bode well with society. They do not want to acknowledge the fact that such a situation could actually occur in the future. In fact, areas with dictatorship are probably afraid that the series could strike up great rebellion. As a future filmmaker, I am concerned because I have always wanted to adapt a book into a film. Because of so many adapted films straying from the book, I have always been encouraged to make sure to stay true to the book. If I were Lawrence right now, I would be making sure that I can make all aspects as close to the book as I can. As a consumer, I am greatly concerned. As an admirer of the series, I really want the films to give me the same visual image I received while reading the book. However, admittedly, I actually want Mockingjay to completely stray away from the book. It is a long story, but really, it just comes down to the fact that I did not enjoy the last book as much as I did the first. There were just so many things wrong with it and it seemed like the author rushed Mockingjay only for the sake of finishing the trilogy.

          A question that escaped me was "Why do directed commit to a film only to back out so suddenly?" I actually thought Gary Ross did a phenomenal job on The Hunger Games. Okay, so there were a few times when there was just a bit too much camera movement, but all in all, the film stayed true to the book. The only reason why some aspects of the film were changed was because sometimes, it is hard to capture ideas in a book that cannot really be portrayed in real life. Despite Ross ditching the series, I still have high expectations for the rest of the series. I severely hope that Lawrence will not disappoint.

http://collider.com/hunger-games-mockingjay-francis-lawrence/207898/

Sundance London to Return

          The best of American indie cinema has been arranged to arrive in London again. Robert Redford and his company have announced and confirmed a Sundance London in London. It is going to be the second Sundance London to occur. It is set to occur at the O2 in London next April 25-28. A 2014 Sundance London may also be in the future. For the 2013 event, tickets are soon to be sold. Tickets go on sale on November 9. However, tickets for the 2014 event may not be sold just yet.

          The article caught my eye because of the words 'Sundance London.' The words sounded so familiar. I was not exactly sure what it was, so I clicked on the article to find out more about it. As I read the article, I finally realized what the Sundance London is. I remember having a conversation with a friend who loves indie movies. She once told me about the Sundance London and how the best indie films are shown. I think its great that a second Sundance London is already set to occur. I'm personally not that into indie films, but there's not doubt that the genre has a lot of fans.

          As a student, I am concerned because the Sundance London could become an important part of film history. As I continue the road of being a student, history continues to be written. As of now, the next Sundance London is only to be the second one to happen. However, as time will pass by, I'm sure that many Sundance London events would continue to occur. As a filmmaker, I've learned to set my eyes on goals of making it to events like the Sundance London. There is no doubt that many filmmakers are discovered because of events like it. I know that it's a very competitive world out there. To even stand a chance, I need to aim for prestigious events like the Sundance London. As a consumer, I could be affected. Like I said earlier, I'm not much of an indie film fan. Then again, I like to broaden my horizons. If possible, I would like to attend the event and view the best indie films out there.

          Will more events like the Sundance London continue to occur? I sure hope so. Events such as the Sundance London opens up so many opportunities, even for amateur filmmakers. Most of the time, it's hit or miss, but when you hit, an event like the Sundance London could really push you to become well-known in the industry.

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35564

The Rise of the Justice League

DC and Marvel have been long time comic adversaries. Unfortunately for DC, Marvel has been able to make most of its characters come to life in movies while DC has only really been successful with the Batman trilogy and the Superman series. Green Lantern, on the other hand, became a flop for DC. Everyone is aware about "The Avengers" and its huge success, possibly one of Marvel's big successes. For DC to compete, they must gather their superheroes and let the Justice League rise. After a long time of fighting over the rights to Superman, Warner Bros. finally won. Now, the DC superheroes finally have a chance to team up together. "The Justice League"is aimed to be released in the summer of 2015. A script is still in the works but a director and lead roles are yet to be determined.

The article caught my eye because the title spoke about DC's Justice League. I am well aware that Marvel has pretty much been kicking DC's butt in making its comic characters come alive. I've always wondered when DC was finally going to collectively put its comic characters into one movie. However, unlike Marvel, not all DC comic characters have yet to have their own movies. Only Batman, Superman, and the Green Lantern have had its own movies. I think it might be a disadvantage to DC because a Justice League movie would be introducing characters, such as Flash, that have yet to be embraced by the audience.

As a student, the article taught me that nothing is easy to achieve. Warner Bros. have been fighting for the rights to Superman for a long time. I'm sure that they've wanted to produce a Justice League movie for an extensive amount of time but they haven't been able to without the rights. I learned that to get what you really want, you have to be persistent and not let time or failure get in the way of your goal. As a future filmmaker, I realize that there is really going to be tough competition. I can't let myself get behind, like DC, against major competitors. It would become a great disadvantage because a major competitor could have already made a huge fan base for a successful movie while I have yet to even produce a movie. And even then, I would have to live under a huge shadow that my major competitor would have already established. As a consumer, I've wanted DC to compete against Marvel with a multi-superhero movie such as "The Avengers." I'm not really much of a comic reader, but Marvel has managed to captivate me more than DC. This is most likely due to the fact that Marvel is more versatile with the amount of superheroes it's been able to introduce to the world, while DC has only introduced three superheroes and one of them became a flop.

For the industry, I think a huge question would be "How competitive is it out there?" DC is going to have to kick major butt in a Justice League movie if they even want to come close to what Marvel has already accomplished. There is not doubt that a Justice League movie would be closely critiqued and compared to "The Avengers." It also hurts DC because while a Justice League movie is still in the works, "The Avengers 2" is already under construction. There's obviously a great expectation for DC and if they even want to be in the same competitive stance as Marvel, they have to work extremely hard.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-justice-league-superman-20121018,0,6421111.story

Harris Savides Has Died

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35488

Not many people know who Harris Savides is. Well, the wide audience that is. However, those who love working with the art of film would be devastated to learn of Savides death. He died at the age of 55 years old. He was born in New York and had initially started a career as a fashion photographer. Soon, his career escalated into music and commercial production. A few music videos he's worked on are R.E.M.'s Everybody Hurts and Madonna's Rain. His career took another leap and he was soon working on movies. Savides has been able to work with huge names in the industry such as David Fincher and Ridley Scott. His cause of death has not been released. However, he has been reported to have been battling with cancer.

The word "died" really attracted me to the article. Lately, I've been seeing deaths in the film industry. A few examples would be Tony Scott and Johnny Lewis. I thought it was really unfortunate for Savides to die at such an early age. At only 55, he still had a lot of successful years ahead of him. Admittedly, I have never even head of Savides before. But like the article said, Savides is not very well-known to the wide audience. He is one of those people that like to work behind the scenes. He also cherishes his successes in silent.

As a student, I realize that time is short. We never really know how much time we have left until we suddenly have run out of time. I should live my life to its fullest and not hold back. Despite not being well-known, Savides continued to pursue his career because of his love for it and he encourages me to do the same. As a future filmmaker, I realize that many filmmakers among me are of an older age. I may make close connections with them and lose them in an instant because of age or other circumstances. I know that I will make close friendships with other filmmakers and I would be saddened to lose any one of them. As a consumer, I would be greatly affected if I had really known who Savides was. Although I do not really know who he is, he must be very influential to other filmmakers if an article was written specifically for his death. I would be worried about who would continue on his legacy.

The one question that really struck me was: "How hard would it be to let go of a close friend?" Everyone knows that the film industry is extremely competitive. You need to have the right connections and release movies at the right time. Despite it's competitiveness, I do realize that close relationships are formed during the production of a film. I wonder how hard it must be for those who had a close relationship with Savides. Are they sorely missing him? Are they saddened by the fact that a chance to work with him again no longer exists? I feel like it would be the worst thing when I have to go through the same thing as them. It's definitely hard to lose someone so close to you.

The Raid on Osama Bin Laden Televised

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/cable-channel-to-televise-bin-laden-film-before-election/

          A feature film about Osama Bin Laden's killing is to be aired November 4th by the National Geographic Channel. It is titled "Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden." Coincidentally, the film is going to be aired two days before election day. It will also start streaming on Netflix the day afterwards, November 5th. Questions arose about whether or not the film might affect the election. After all, the killing of Osama Bin Laden might as well be President Obama's greatest achievement as president. According to the National Geographic channel's president, Howard T. Owens, "Other than being commercially opportunistic, [they] weren't considering the election."

          Osama Bin Laden's name immediately caught my eye, causing me to click on the article. I could not believe that the killing occurred more than a year ago. It feels as though it had only just happened a few months ago. I remember being in 9th grade and my history teacher told the class that one day, that important event in history will be in our history books. I did not doubt him one bit. Curiosity could not escape my peers and me. Because the raid was kept so top secret, no one but those involved know what really happened. If opportunity allows, I would definitely make time to watch the film.

          The article greatly impacts me as a student. Like I mentioned earlier, Osama Bin Laden's killing will someday make it into the history books of many students. It has been one of our nation's most important goals: to get rid of an oppressive and dangerous dictator. As a future filmmaker, this gives me the idea that even the most confidential information can be attained. The filmmakers of the feature film were allowed the chance to work with a "recently retired Navy Seal, a top CIA operative and once of the most renowned Bin Laden historians." I definitely see myself doing documentaries of all sorts in the future. After all, without the media, most people would not be informed about what really goes on in the government. If I was ever given the chance to televise such an important event in history, I would absolutely jump at the chance. As a consumer, I am already interested in watching the feature film. Curiosity about what really occurred that day cannot escape anybody. Even now, no one really knows. It is about time we are clued in to the hard decisions and actions that had to be made.

          Because of this article, I began to wonder whether the film would be as accurate as it is being advertised. We all know that the media tends to over-exaggerate a lot of things. I have very high expectations for the film. I do not want to be fed with lies about what really happened. The event is so important that even the simplest detail should not be left out. I also began to wonder about other important events in our history. Will films be made about them too? According to the article, a feature film about the killing of Abraham Lincoln is set to be televised as well. I would not mind more of these types of films. It's the best way to learn our country's history.

Double Death

                 
          Johnny Lewis, a previous star of "Sons of Anarchy," fell to his death from the roof of Catherine Davis, an 81-year-old woman. Shockingly, the bodies of both Lewis and Davis were found at the home. The police responded to a "911 call about a woman screaming" and arrived at the home, only to find two dead bodies. Lewis was found at the driveway of the home, lifeless and dead. He is the suspect for Davis' death. They say that he beat the woman to death and got into a fight with two other men from a nearby house. It is unknown whether Lewis jumped or fell off of the roof. Apparently, Lewis was barely released from jail 5 days before his death. It was revealed that he had a criminal history and was currently going through rehab.

          What really attracted me to this article was Lewis' familiar face. I saw his face attached to the article and I began wracking my brain about where I've seen him before. It suddenly hit me that he was once a guest star in a "Criminal Minds" episode. He played a character that liked to recreate murder techniques that have been accomplished by famous killers in the past. I thought it was just ironic, because in the episode, he took pleasure in suffocating his girlfriend while committing sexual intercourse, and in the article, it is claimed that Lewis beat the woman to death. It is also ironic because Lewis played a criminal in the show and he turns out to be a criminal in real life as well. I was not aware that he once dated Katy Perry. His death shocked me. In all honesty, I really liked him in the "Criminal Minds" episode despite his eerily scary character.

          As a student, I am affected because this shows me that looks can be pretty deceiving. Johnny Lewis, at first glance, seems like a really handsome man and it also helps that he is a great actor as well. But behind his pretty face is a past full of bad mistakes. I should learn to get to know a person better before I entrust them. Catherine Davis may have willingly invited Lewis into her home, not realizing that it could lead to her death. As a future filmmaker, this teaches me to be more careful about the actors/actresses that I am casting into my movies. I do not want to cast a fantastic actor/actress, only to find out that he/she has a violent streak and has a criminal record. As a consumer, this article makes me realize that just because an actor is fantastic on screen, it does not mean that they are fantastic off screen either. An actor could be playing the sweetest and down-to-earth character in a movie/show, but behind the scenes, he is a complete jerk and disregards his fans.

          A few questions floated around my mind while reading the article. Does the industry not make background searches as thorough as they should be? Will a filmmaker completely disregard someone's criminal history just because he/she is an amazing actor/actress? Background searches should not be taken lightly. For all you know, that someone could have been a previous murderer, terrorist, or even drug dealer. Despite the good acting, it would still shed bad light onto the filmmaker because he's putting the rest of his cast in danger. The desperate need for a fantastic actor/actress should not be enough for a filmmaker to hire a criminal and place people in danger.

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/-sons-of-anarchy--star-johnny-lewis-dies-in-bizarre-double-death.html

Copyright Lawsuit Against Disney

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/disney-wins-dismissal-santa-paws-372746 

          Ray Harter, Richard Kearny, and Ed Corno claimed that Disney's "Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws" and "The Search for Santa Paws" were undeniable copies of their short story and script "Santa Paws: The Story of Santa's Dog." They sued Disney in December, claiming that they came up with the story first way back in 1991. Unfortunately for the plaintiffs, a federal judge dismissed their copyright lawsuit. The judge said that the movies were "substantially dissimilar." The similarities that were found between the movies did not break any copyright laws. Even the lawyer for the plaintiffs, Albert Watkins, claimed that he believed that the Court had really thought out their opinion. The plaintiffs' civil conspiracy claim was quickly dismissed.

          I was surprised to see that someone was bold enough to actually try to sue Disney. As I read the article, I realized that the Disney movies mentioned were actually movies that my sister had watched before. I remember being forced to watch them with her. Really, the movies are just one of those childish nonsense movies that you cannot help but love. I have never even heard about Harter, Kearny, or Corno, or the movie "Santa Paws: The Story of Santa's Dog." Clearly, they are not really well-known in the industry. If I recall, my sister and I watched the two Disney movies a few months ago. I wondered why the plaintiffs barely even tried to sue Disney. As soon as the movie was even released, they should have already sued Disney. Because they did not, it leaves me to think that they only sued Disney because of its movies' success; the success that the plaintiffs believe they should have achieved. I feel like their lawsuit against Disney was more of a result of jealousy and obviously anger.

          As a student, this leads me to the issue of plagiarism and cheating. I know that if I wrote a long essay, only to have someone plagiarize and take credit for it, I would be livid. Plagiarism is an issue that has never been tolerated in schools. As a student, plagiarism could cause expulsion. As a future filmmaker, a situation like this could easily happen to me. There are millions of people in the world and more likely than not, someone's idea is not as original as they think it is. Somewhere, someone else in the world could have the same idea but they do not have the same capability to actually put their idea to use. All I know is that if something like this ever happened to me, I would fight for my idea. I am not just going to back down simply because someone else did not have the connections to pull through with a movie, script, etc. As a consumer, this article brings Disney is somewhat of a bad light. It makes Disney seem unoriginal, that they get their ideas by stealing it from other people. The titles of the movies are clearly nearly identical. Perhaps the content of the movies were not identical, but Disney could have at least switched up its a title.

          This article raises a few questions from the industry. If a filmmaker comes up with an idea and makes it into a successful movie, can't anyone just simply rise up to the occasion and claim that they came up with the idea first? Are filmmakers really as original as they seem to be? Or could they be taking their ideas from other people? I know that I would hate it someone took an idea that I believe is originally mine. Then again, just because I had an idea, it does not necessarily mean that I am the only person in the world who has ever come up with such an idea. This specifically applies for many filmmakers as well. If a filmmaker has a successful movie, and another filmmaker believes that they had the same idea, the other filmmaker should just drop it. The successful filmmaker just happened to produce the movie at the right time. The two filmmakers may have just coincidentally came up with the same idea without the knowledge of one another.

Transformers 4

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35189

          The president of Hasbro, Brian Goldner, was present at the UBS Best of Americas 2012 Conference. In the conference, Goldner talked about his future plans for Hasbro, most specifically "Transformers 4" and "Stretch Armstrong." Goldner plans to release new robot characters for Transformers 4. He claims that "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" faired rather well in the box office. However, because all characters from the first three films were kept constant, the toy sales decreased. Goldner also states that "Stretch Armstrong" has a movie in its future and a TV series that is intended to be released in 2014. "Transformers 4" is also intended to be released in 2014, but a specific date, or even month, has yet to be announced.

          I was a huge fan of the "Transformers" series when the first two movies came out. However, when I watched "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," I was sorely disappointed. So when I saw that a fourth installation to the series was being made, I was rather shocked. I would think that Hasbro would stop at the third movie, considering not that many people actually liked it. In fact, before I watched the movie, I asked other people if it was any good. They all said no.

          As a student, this situation has given light to my understanding. There has to be a point when I need to learn when to stop. I have this terrible habit. For example, whenever I draw something and it looks good enough, I just cannot help from still working on it. Most often than not, the drawing looked a lot better before I kept messing with it. The thing is, the "Transformers" series should have just ended at the third movie. Adding a fourth installation just ruins the reputation it's already made. As a future filmmaker, it impacts me like a student. When I make movies, I should just stop when it feels right. I should not continue to add onto a series simply because I want to make more money out of it. As a consumer, this impacts me because I was pretty much absolutely sure that the "Transformers" series was done and over with. However, I have been proved wrong. I was shocked to find out that Hasbro still intends to continue on a series that was already good enough in itself.

          This raises a few questions out of the industry. Even when a movie series is expected to be over, will the company continue to add onto it simply to make money? Is that all the industry is about now? Money? I always thought that there is more to the industry than just money. I thought that most people go into the industry because it is their passion. Filmmakers should treat their movies as their masterpiece. They should not do anything -- such as add an unnecessary sequel -- to ruin their masterpiece.

Daniel Craig as James Bond

Daniel Craig is believed to have signed at least two more films to play as James Bond. "Skyfall" is the third film in which Craig played the character of James Bond. Craig has also done well in other films such as "Casino Royale" in 2006 and "The Quantion of Solace" in 2008. According to a 007 fan website, M16-HQ, Sony has decided to co-finance the film with MGM with a new deal. However, Sony had no comment about the rumor. "Skyfall" is going to hit the theaters on November 9th.

When choosing this article, what really caught my eye was Daniel Craig's name. I am a huge fan of Craig. I thought that he was absolutely amazing in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." He was not exactly what I thought of when reading the book, but he played the character very well. I personally have not watched any James Bond movies. However, I do intend on watching "Skyfall." Hopefully, it lives up to my expectations.

As a student, this article tells me that it is not impossible to be successful. Despite his growing age, Daniel Craig is rising the charts as one of the best actors in the industry. I do remember flirting with the idea of being an actress before. If that were still the case, Craig would have provided me with a great role model. As a filmmaker, I could use the article's information as a guide for me in the future. I know that if I really like an actor or actress, I would most definitely sign them for another film contract, only if the film is to become a series. Personally, I like Daniel Craig. If I were a filmmaker right now, I would also sign him into more films. As a consumer, there are high expectations for an actor playing James Bond. I have high expectations for Daniel Craig. When I watch "Skyfall," I expect it to be as good as it seems to be.

A few questions escaped me when reading the article. Will these occurrences start to become a trend? Will many actors/actresses be continued to be signed to more and more movies? In some cases, this is a good thing. Sometimes an actor/actress plays a character really well that they just have to be signed into another movie. However, if the next film is not necessarily related to the first one, it would be unfair to other actors/actresses. Every actor/actress should have the opportunity to audition against other actors/actresses that do not get special treatment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/daniel-craig-james-bond_n_1862056.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

Jersey Shore Gets Canceled... FINALLY!

          After six seasons, Jersey Shore gets canceled. There aren't many details as to why the show was canceled. However, after Snooki got pregnant, Jersey Shore was even lucky to venture onto and finish a sixth season. The last ever episode of Jersey Shore will be aired on October 4th at 10 pm eastern time. Despite canceling the show, a few of the cast are working on separate shows such as Snooki & JWOWW and The Pauly D Project.

          When I saw the title of the article, I immediately clicked on it. I have waited for this day. Jersey Shore is a pointless and plotless show. They call it a reality show, but really, if we are being realistic, Jersey Shore is far from realistic. The cast are basically just acting off of a script. There are, however, a lot of people that enjoy Jersey Shore, for some reason that I don't quite understand. Obviously, I am not one of those people. Jersey Shore takes up a TV slot that could be filled in with something of more importance. Unfortunately, despite the show being cancelled, the other cast mates are still going to continue on it's legacy separate from the show. By legacy, I mean stupidity.

          As a student, Jersey Shore has no relevance to me. As a future filmmaker, the article helps me set standards for myself. If I'm going to be a filmmaker, I am going to make media that actually has a point. I am not going to put on a cast of people who practically do nothing other than party, fist-pump, and fight with each other just to get ratings. No, if I am going to get ratings, I want it to be out of pure hard work. Jersey Shore is a show that gives any filmmaker an easy way out. It is so stupid that people just cannot help but watch it, therefore giving you high ratings. If I was a consumer of the show, maybe I would actually care that it's getting cancelled. Unfortunately, I don't buy the stupidity they present in Jersey Shore. I never have and thankfully, I won't ever have to because of it's cancellation.

          Jersey Shore in itself presents a lot of questions for the industry and MTV. The film industry should not even allow shows like Jersey Shore to appear on TV. Honestly, I think that it is an insult to great filmmakers like Tim Burton and Steven Spielberg. Tim Burton spends years and years on his movies and so does Steven Spielberg. Whomever was in charge of Jersey Shore was making major money for hardly doing anything. On the other hand, MTV has gone astray from it's original purpose. MTV used to stand for Music Television. Now, I think it's more like Moronic Television. There is hardly anymore music videos or music featurettes that occur on MTV. Instead, MTV places reality shows over what it's supposed to be showing. MTV really needs to dig deep back into its original roots and get rid of all of its pointless reality shows.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20625667,00.html

Tim Burton's 'Frankenweenie'

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118058175?refCatId=13          

For only the second time in the last several years, a stop-motion picture was chosen to open the London Film Festival. Tim Burton's 'Frankenweenie' was the film given this honor. The film's London premiere is due October 10th at the Odeon Leifcester Square. The London Film Festival's director, Clare Stewart, believes that 'Frankenweenie' is a great choice for the festival's opening because it comes from one of the greatest film directors and visionaries of all time. An exhibition for 'Frankenweenie' will also be held from October 17-21, showcasing the process Tim Burton took is making the stop-motion animation.

          I chose this specific article because I am personally a Tim Burton fan. When I found out that he had released another stop-motion film, I just knew that I have to watch it. As soon as I saw Tim Burton's name associated with the article, I quickly clicked on it. I also thought that it was a pretty important article because this is the first I've heard of a Tim Burton film opening the London Film Festival. It must be a great honor.

         As a student, this article has nothing to concern me, other than it being another movie release. On the other hand, as a future filmmaker, the article provides me with hope and a role model. It lets me know that nothing is impossible. If I put my mind to it, I can achieve what Tim Burton has accomplished and receive an honor as great as opening for a film festival. As a consumer, the article caught my eye. Most people must know of Tim Burton's great existence. He produces films that most people cannot wait to watch. After reading the article, my want to watch 'Frankenweenie' increased.

         Although 'Frankenweenie' is only the second stop-motion picture to London Film Festival, it raises the chances of more stop-motion pictures to open the festival, assuming they can reach the standard that 'Frankenweenie' and other opening films have set. Also, this amazing honor must have given Tim Burton inspiration to make more movies, not only stop-motion animations, but all kinds of movies. I am  personally looking forward to more Burton films.

Netflix and Redbox Fight Together

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-disney-netflix-20120607,0,3629780.story

     Disney came up with a new policy that delays DVD rentals for 28 days after the DVD goes on sale. Disney believes that by doing this, they can make more money by forcing consumers to buy the DVDs if they really want to watch it. Netflix and Redbox join together in an effort to defy Disney's new policy. They found a loophole around the policy and chose to buy the DVDs from other retailers. The "first sale" legal doctrine does not allow studios to prohibit companies from renting DVDs that they legally purchased. However, by buying the DVDs, both Netflix and Redbox won't be making as much money as they normally would.

     I chose this article because I personally rent my DVDs from Redbox. I am also a huge Disney fan and I make every effort to watch new Disney movies. It's important to know about this information if you're like me. Most people like to rent their movies instead of buying them, unless it's really a movie that they would like to own. If someone really wants to watch a movie, they would want to be able to rent it as soon as the DVD goes on sale. Disney's new policy would force Disney movie lovers to wait it out, unless they want to buy a $29.99 DVD.

     As a student, this information does not really affect me. However, as a future filmmaker, I could make use of this policy. Disney's policy makes sense, actually. When I make my first movie, I would like to make a lot of money out of it. By exclusively selling the DVDs, I'd be getting the profit that DVD rentals would instead be receiving. On the other hand, as a consumer, I hate this policy. I don't want to have to wait 28 days to watch I movie I want to see. That is way too long of a wait! I've already waited a long time for the DVD to come out and now, I'd have to wait another 28 days. I most especially do not want to have to pay for the movie. I'm most likely going to watch that movie once and never watch it again for a long time.

     I would hate for all studios to start adopting this policy. According to the article, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros. also have a policy similar to Disney's. The next thing you know, the film industry might make this policy become a new nationwide law. That's the last thing I want to happen. Also, if Redbox starts to buy their DVDs from other retailers, I'm almost definitely sure that their rental fee is going to increase. After all, they still need to make a profit. The same goes for Netflix. I do not want rental fees to start to become unreasonable. Redbox usually rents out its DVDs for $1 to $1.50. I'd like for it to stay that way.