The attack of the Internet
The question that everyone wants answered now is whether this month's new film can live up to all the expectations. Trailers for the film have likely been viewed more than any others. They have also sparked many videos, including reviews, LEGO versions and parodies. The public is obviously interested, but will their discontent with the more recent films ruin the new one's chances?
A new hope
Fans seem to be hopeful about The Force Awakens so far. One good sign is the presence of the original trilogy's lead actors, who seem very positive about the project. The filmmakers have also promised a return to practical effects over CGI. Hundreds of creatures have been created, including ball-shaped droid BB8 and Bobbajo, an alien puppet operated by five people. The movie is directed by J.J. Abrams, maker of many hit films and a huge fan of the franchise himself.
All the pieces seem to be in place for success, perhaps except one -- your place in the theater.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Inventing a Language 教學主題: 人造語言
There are lots of movies, in which non human characters speak made up or artificial languages.
Check out Avatar, the Star Wars, and Star Trick movies for examples.
What about those adorable Minions, what language do they speak?
They speak Minionese, a combination of real words, made up words and Gibberish.
Inventing a language, if it’s to be convincing, actually takes a lot of thought and planning, movie makers sometimes use real obscure languages as models to imitate.
Some will hire linguists to help create a language with a real alphabet vocabulary and grammar words.
Movie makers will also take advantage of sound symbolism. That’s the idea that sounds carry their own intrinsic meaning.
Right, let’s say I want to create a sci-fi world with two different alien races, one is cruel and ugly, while the other is beautiful and gentle, so I invent the names Lumarians and Gordanks.
Now based on the sound of those invented names which race would you say is good and which is evil?
Would you say the Gordanks, are the bad guys? I think most people would agree the sound of the word Gordank carries with a harsh brutish quality, right?
Language Lab
spark v.
to make someone feel interested, hopeful etc:
- The science camp sparked Jonah's interest in chemistry.
- The proposal sparked intensive debates between the two parties.
parody n.
a piece of writing, music etc or an action that copies someone or something in an amusing way
- The Scary Movie sequels are successful parodies of many horror movies.
- The painting is a self-parody of the artist's previous work.
intrigued adj.
very interested in something because it seems strange or mysterious
intrigued by
- He was intrigued by her reaction.
trilogy n.
a series of three plays, books etc that are about the same people or subject:
- Jeff watched the entire Blade trilogy because he's a big fan of Wesley Snipes.
- The movie channel played the Mad Max trilogy all in a row last night.
trtralogy 四部曲
- Lethal Weapon tetralogy
droid n. [android n. 的簡稱]
a robot that looks like a person
- The droids were totally controlled by the villain in the movie.
- The little droid can do all kinds of things; it can even tell jokes.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151205baa73ff3d43851120eaf52efd428f373007d974f2900e6442426e18967eeaacd1e4.wma
Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Friday, December 4, 2015
Star Wars: Return of the Franchise (2)
Mommy, can I have a lightsaber?
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Ambiguous Billion 教學主題: Billion到底是多少？
Most English words have more than one meaning, which can cause confusion sometimes.
Perhaps no other word causes as much confusion as the word "billion." How? Let’s first take a look at the word million.
A million of course is represented by a one with 6 zeros. Most mathematicians in Western Europe, for example, view one million as one functional unit, meaning the next unit up billion; we have twice the number of zeros. In this way, one billion equals a million millions.
Okay, but mathematicians in other parts of the world, don’t agree, they think of one million not as one unit, but rather two groups of three zeros. So for them, the next unit up would be three groups of three zeros. For them a billion is a thousand millions.
Now, think of all the important discussions at the United Nations about populations, statistics, international trade, economics and science where the word billion could be used and you’ll get an idea of the confusion the ambiguous billion could cause.
Yes, today there’s still no agreement among nations about the meaning of billion and many Asian countries, like China and Japan; this is mostly a non issue.
Language Lab
eventually adv.
at some later time : in the end
- After many tries, we eventually found the right freeway exit.
finally adv.
at the end of a period of time
- Finally, put the basil on top of the pasta as garnish.
landmark n.
an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize
- Taipei 101 is one of Asia's famous landmarks.
a very important event or achievement
- The invention of Facebook is a landmark in the development of social networks.
visual adj.
/ˈvɪʒəwəl/
relating to seeing or to the eyes
- Howard uses a lot of visual aids in his teaching.
- We had visual contact but never talked.
aural adj.
/ˈorəl/
relating to the ear or sense of hearing
- The movie has astonishing visual and aural effects.
sequel n.
a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book, movie, etc.
- Jurassic World, the sequel to Jurassic Park, was a great hit in summer.
- The author is working on the sequel to her top-seller novel.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151204baa820e8b11bf658cf37967c13eef57f7127e227c1241d3a0b8e65c3ccfe4aa3fb3.wma
One of the biggest influences that Star Wars has had on the film industry is product sales, including toys. Movie products, such as figurines, games and lunchboxes, were hardly a financial draw before Star Wars. While 20th Century Fox received theater profits, Lucas kept other franchise rights, eventually giving him a net value of billions.
The Force is strong with this one
Star Wars was also a landmark in the world of film itself as well.
Filmmaking never turned back after seeing its visual effects, which also led to a higher standard of video games. The film basically began film sound design on its own, receiving a special Oscar for Ben Burtt's audio work. George Lucas also claims that money earned from Star Wars and Jews gave theaters the funds to create multiplexes. The Star Wars films also opened up storytelling in film, as one story was told over three films. Hollywood made movie sequels before the original Star Wars series, but most were stand-alone films that didn't require previous viewing.
Filmmaking never turned back after seeing its visual effects, which also led to a higher standard of video games. The film basically began film sound design on its own, receiving a special Oscar for Ben Burtt's audio work. George Lucas also claims that money earned from Star Wars and Jews gave theaters the funds to create multiplexes. The Star Wars films also opened up storytelling in film, as one story was told over three films. Hollywood made movie sequels before the original Star Wars series, but most were stand-alone films that didn't require previous viewing.
Teaching Topic: The Ambiguous Billion 教學主題: Billion到底是多少？
Most English words have more than one meaning, which can cause confusion sometimes.
Perhaps no other word causes as much confusion as the word "billion." How? Let’s first take a look at the word million.
A million of course is represented by a one with 6 zeros. Most mathematicians in Western Europe, for example, view one million as one functional unit, meaning the next unit up billion; we have twice the number of zeros. In this way, one billion equals a million millions.
Okay, but mathematicians in other parts of the world, don’t agree, they think of one million not as one unit, but rather two groups of three zeros. So for them, the next unit up would be three groups of three zeros. For them a billion is a thousand millions.
Now, think of all the important discussions at the United Nations about populations, statistics, international trade, economics and science where the word billion could be used and you’ll get an idea of the confusion the ambiguous billion could cause.
Yes, today there’s still no agreement among nations about the meaning of billion and many Asian countries, like China and Japan; this is mostly a non issue.
Language Lab
eventually adv.
at some later time : in the end
- After many tries, we eventually found the right freeway exit.
finally adv.
at the end of a period of time
- Finally, put the basil on top of the pasta as garnish.
landmark n.
an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize
- Taipei 101 is one of Asia's famous landmarks.
a very important event or achievement
- The invention of Facebook is a landmark in the development of social networks.
visual adj.
/ˈvɪʒəwəl/
relating to seeing or to the eyes
- Howard uses a lot of visual aids in his teaching.
- We had visual contact but never talked.
aural adj.
/ˈorəl/
relating to the ear or sense of hearing
- The movie has astonishing visual and aural effects.
sequel n.
a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book, movie, etc.
- Jurassic World, the sequel to Jurassic Park, was a great hit in summer.
- The author is working on the sequel to her top-seller novel.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151204baa820e8b11bf658cf37967c13eef57f7127e227c1241d3a0b8e65c3ccfe4aa3fb3.wma
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Star Wars: Return of the Franchise (1)
- I've got a bad feeling about this
- May the gross be with you
Coming to a galaxy near you
Though the Force awakens in just a few days, was it really ever asleep? Since the first film’s release in 1977, the influence of the Star Wars franchise never seems to have faded.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this
With Episode VII now on the horizon, excitement has reached a new level. Director George Lucas and many others did not feel the same kind of energy leading up to the first film’s opening, however. As a matter of fact, Lucas felt so certain of failure that he went to Hawaii to avoid the first screening. He had no idea that his movie would be the second biggest moneymaker of all time, inflation considered.
May the gross be with you
According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, the Star Wars franchise has made about $27 billion, all sales included. The six films themselves only account for over $4 billion. A total of 130 video games and 358 books also make up a tidy sum. However, the greatest contribution, about $12 billion, actually comes from toy sales.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Popular Movie Quotes 電影台詞生活化
If you are a movie buff, you may be interested in the top 100 American movie quotes of all time voted by the American Film Institute.
One thing judges were asked to consider when making their decision was, is the movie quote now a part of popular culture? That is, isn’t something people actually say in their own lives.
For example, when people run into an unexpected difficulty,they might say out loud, "Houston, we have a problem."
Now I admit I’ve said that before, that was of course a quote from the 1995 film Apollo 13, and it was listed at number 50. Okay, have you ever said these, "I’ll be back" or "Hastala vista, baby!"
I confess I have. Both phrases were originally spoken by actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the Terminator movies, as famous movie quotes they appear on the list at number 37 and 76 respectively.
So did a quote from Star Wars make the list? you bet. And it landed at the number 8 position, it was spoken by the character Han Solo, and it’s something I think all Star Wars fans have set and continued to say from time to time, “May the force be with you.”
Language Lab
franchise n.
the right to sell a company's goods or services in a particular area
- The company paid a fortune to get the franchise to build railroads and train stations across the country.
- The international corporation owns several fast-food franchisees.
horizon n.
the line where the earth or sea seems to meet the sky
- A truck loomed on the horizon in the fog.
on the horizon
coming in the near future
- The mega theme park on the horizon will attract thousands and thousands of visitors.
horizontal adj.
positioned from side to side rather than up and down : parallel to the ground
- a horizontal line/beam
inflation n.
/ɪnˈfleɪʃən/
a continual increase in the price of goods and services
- The country's high inflation is the main cause of its recession.
inflate v.
to add air or gas to (something, such as a tire or a balloon) and make it larger
- We used machines to inflate all the balloons.
gross n.
/ˈgroʊs/
including everything
- What was the gross [=total] weight of the shipment?
- The company's gross doubled this year.
gross v.
to earn (an amount of money) before taxes, expenses, etc., are taken away
- Helen's annual gross income is around $100,000.
net
- The net income of the product is about $2 million.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151203baad07b252f8a9317eea34b2ae5f1a79a4229c761567dd399dce1a88cfa4e01247f.wma
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Happy 90th Birthday to the Grand Ole Opry (2)
During a 31-year span, form 1943 to 1974, the program launched many music careers. Legends such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash performed on the Ryman stage.
As audiences continued to grow, the Ryman Auditorium began to show signs of deterioration. In March 1974 the Grand Ole Opry moved to a 4300-seat auditorium built for the show and named the Grand Ole Opry House. As an indication of the show's importance, then U.S. President Richard Nixon played the piano on opening night.
Changes through the years
Today, most names and faces are different, and the music has changed somewhat. The Opry has welcomed many who have become iconic entertainers, including Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift.
Although early city leaders resented the Opry's musical style, today's leaders are proud of Nashville's most popular tourist attraction. Nashville bears the title Music City and hosts hundreds of thousands form around the world who come to see the legendary broadcast.
Millions more tune in each week to listen to the show that is still dedicated to country music's rich history and its exciting present.
Language Lab
span n.
the period of time between two dates or events
- The life span of a butterfly only lasts a couple of weeks.
- Ricky worked with his dad over a span of ten years.
span v. [spans; spanned; spanning]
to continue throughout (a period of time)
- The patient's treatment spanned more than three years.
deterioration n.
/dɪˌtirijəˈreɪʃən/
the act or process of becoming worse
- Signs of deterioration started to show in his physical condition.
deteriorate v.
/dɪˈtirijəˌreɪt/
to become worse as time passes
- Her mental condition is deteriorating.
resent v.
/rɪˈzɛnt/
to be angry or upset about (someone or something that you think is unfair)
- Harry resents his boss because he always blames others when things go wrong.
resentment n.
a feeling of anger or displeasure about someone or something unfair
- The boy has a deep resentment against his parents.
bear v. [bears; bore /ˈboɚ/ ; borne /ˈboɚn/ ; bearing]
to accept or endure (something);
to assume or accept (something, such as cost or responsibility);
- Because William bears the honor of his family, he has to revive the family business.
- After her husband abandoned her, Sophie bore the responsibility of raising her children alone.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151128baa4dfa81514dbea9a0220b7ea4bd3ee1443a43ce385ab91a7b6f78ceb12b24ccb6.wma
As audiences continued to grow, the Ryman Auditorium began to show signs of deterioration. In March 1974 the Grand Ole Opry moved to a 4300-seat auditorium built for the show and named the Grand Ole Opry House. As an indication of the show's importance, then U.S. President Richard Nixon played the piano on opening night.
Changes through the years
Today, most names and faces are different, and the music has changed somewhat. The Opry has welcomed many who have become iconic entertainers, including Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift.
Although early city leaders resented the Opry's musical style, today's leaders are proud of Nashville's most popular tourist attraction. Nashville bears the title Music City and hosts hundreds of thousands form around the world who come to see the legendary broadcast.
Millions more tune in each week to listen to the show that is still dedicated to country music's rich history and its exciting present.
Language Lab
span n.
the period of time between two dates or events
- The life span of a butterfly only lasts a couple of weeks.
- Ricky worked with his dad over a span of ten years.
span v. [spans; spanned; spanning]
to continue throughout (a period of time)
- The patient's treatment spanned more than three years.
deterioration n.
/dɪˌtirijəˈreɪʃən/
the act or process of becoming worse
- Signs of deterioration started to show in his physical condition.
deteriorate v.
/dɪˈtirijəˌreɪt/
to become worse as time passes
- Her mental condition is deteriorating.
resent v.
/rɪˈzɛnt/
to be angry or upset about (someone or something that you think is unfair)
- Harry resents his boss because he always blames others when things go wrong.
resentment n.
a feeling of anger or displeasure about someone or something unfair
- The boy has a deep resentment against his parents.
bear v. [bears; bore /ˈboɚ/ ; borne /ˈboɚn/ ; bearing]
to accept or endure (something);
to assume or accept (something, such as cost or responsibility);
- Because William bears the honor of his family, he has to revive the family business.
- After her husband abandoned her, Sophie bore the responsibility of raising her children alone.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151128baa4dfa81514dbea9a0220b7ea4bd3ee1443a43ce385ab91a7b6f78ceb12b24ccb6.wma
Friday, November 27, 2015
Happy 90th Birthday to the Grand Ole Opry (1)
Celebrating the legendary radio show that made country music famous!
On November 28, 1925, no one anticipated the enormous success that awaited a small country music program making its radio debut. Yet the Grand Ole Opry would become an international phenomenon, and 90 year later, it is considered to be “country’s most famous stage.”
Opry’s history is a glimpse into country music, its artists and its evolution.
Tremendous growth
In 1925, the show featuring local musicians was broadcast live from a Nashville, Tennessee, radio station. Some area leaders disliked the show because they preferred a more cultured image for their city.
Listeners, though, related to the realistic themes inherent in country music.
The Grand Ole Opry's popularity grew, and people began stopping by to watch the musicians perform. Before long, the audience had outgrown the radio station, prompting a move to a new location.
By the 1930s, families across the United States were gathering around their radios for their favorite Saturday night broadcast, which had expanded to four hours of live performances.
Within 10 years, only one Nashville venue was large enough to hold Opry audiences, and 1943, the Grand Ole Opry made Ryman Auditorium its home.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Happy Birthday to You 教學主題: 收版稅的生日快樂歌
If today is your birthday, then happy birthday! Now Steve and I would like to sing for you the most frequently sung English song in the whole world, “happy birthday to you”. But sorry, we can’t.
Sorry everybody, you see even though “happy birthday to you”was written way back in the 1890s, it’s still not in a public domain yet which means it’s illegal to sing a song in public without permission from the copyright holder.
And getting permission costs big money thousands of dollars for a single use that’s why you really hear the song sung in movies or on TV shows.
Yes, now restaurant employees aren’t allowed to sing a song to customers either because technically restaurants are public places.
And so many restaurant chains have created their own happy birthday song to avoid paying the expensive licensing fee.
Okay, in Europe copyright protection lasts for the life of the composer plus 70 years. Now since the last co-author of the song died back in 1946, you’ll be able to sing “happy birthday to you” in the streets of Paris and Berlin for free starting next year, but if you are in the US where copyright laws are different, you’ll have to wait until 2030.
Language Lab
evolution n. [volut 字根-滾, 捲]
a process of slow change and development
- Nuclear families are the products of social evolution.
- The movie talked about the evolution of the music industry in the 70s.
evolve v.
to change or develop slowly often into a better, more complex, or more advanced state : to develop by a process of evolution
- This tiny company evolved into an international enterprise. 這家小公司後來演變成國際企業
cultured adj.
having or showing good education, tastes, and manners
- He's a cultured man who has very elegant taste.
- Her cultured manner attracted my attention. 她優雅的行為吸引我的注意
grown or made under controlled conditions
- cultured cells/pearls
inherent adj.
belonging to the basic nature of someone or something
- There are inherent risks in any form of investment.
- Elisa's marital problems are due to her inherent distrust of men.
auditorium n.
/ˌɑːdəˈtorijəm/
a large room or building where people gather to watch a performance, hear a speech, etc.
- The band concert will be held in the newly renovated auditorium.
the part of a building (such as a theater) where an audience sits
- Eating and drinking are prohibited in the auditorium.
a glimpse into
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151127baa81519ec9d6f4981edbfaa0b360124869be7bf1aeea0d444b356387bbc82b1952.wma
On November 28, 1925, no one anticipated the enormous success that awaited a small country music program making its radio debut. Yet the Grand Ole Opry would become an international phenomenon, and 90 year later, it is considered to be “country’s most famous stage.”
Opry’s history is a glimpse into country music, its artists and its evolution.
Tremendous growth
In 1925, the show featuring local musicians was broadcast live from a Nashville, Tennessee, radio station. Some area leaders disliked the show because they preferred a more cultured image for their city.
Listeners, though, related to the realistic themes inherent in country music.
The Grand Ole Opry's popularity grew, and people began stopping by to watch the musicians perform. Before long, the audience had outgrown the radio station, prompting a move to a new location.
By the 1930s, families across the United States were gathering around their radios for their favorite Saturday night broadcast, which had expanded to four hours of live performances.
Within 10 years, only one Nashville venue was large enough to hold Opry audiences, and 1943, the Grand Ole Opry made Ryman Auditorium its home.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Happy Birthday to You 教學主題: 收版稅的生日快樂歌
If today is your birthday, then happy birthday! Now Steve and I would like to sing for you the most frequently sung English song in the whole world, “happy birthday to you”. But sorry, we can’t.
Sorry everybody, you see even though “happy birthday to you”was written way back in the 1890s, it’s still not in a public domain yet which means it’s illegal to sing a song in public without permission from the copyright holder.
And getting permission costs big money thousands of dollars for a single use that’s why you really hear the song sung in movies or on TV shows.
Yes, now restaurant employees aren’t allowed to sing a song to customers either because technically restaurants are public places.
And so many restaurant chains have created their own happy birthday song to avoid paying the expensive licensing fee.
Okay, in Europe copyright protection lasts for the life of the composer plus 70 years. Now since the last co-author of the song died back in 1946, you’ll be able to sing “happy birthday to you” in the streets of Paris and Berlin for free starting next year, but if you are in the US where copyright laws are different, you’ll have to wait until 2030.
Language Lab
evolution n. [volut 字根-滾, 捲]
a process of slow change and development
- Nuclear families are the products of social evolution.
- The movie talked about the evolution of the music industry in the 70s.
evolve v.
to change or develop slowly often into a better, more complex, or more advanced state : to develop by a process of evolution
- This tiny company evolved into an international enterprise. 這家小公司後來演變成國際企業
cultured adj.
having or showing good education, tastes, and manners
- He's a cultured man who has very elegant taste.
- Her cultured manner attracted my attention. 她優雅的行為吸引我的注意
grown or made under controlled conditions
- cultured cells/pearls
inherent adj.
belonging to the basic nature of someone or something
- There are inherent risks in any form of investment.
- Elisa's marital problems are due to her inherent distrust of men.
auditorium n.
/ˌɑːdəˈtorijəm/
a large room or building where people gather to watch a performance, hear a speech, etc.
- The band concert will be held in the newly renovated auditorium.
the part of a building (such as a theater) where an audience sits
- Eating and drinking are prohibited in the auditorium.
a glimpse into
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151127baa81519ec9d6f4981edbfaa0b360124869be7bf1aeea0d444b356387bbc82b1952.wma
Thursday, July 2, 2015
The Art of Voice Acting (2)
The world of voice acting
As you embark on a voice acting career, remember that your new environment is one that demands patience and hard work. You might start by recording bits for commercials or the voice people hear when the subway doors are closing. With some success, avenues for film or video game animation and documentary narration might be in your future. But even professionals take both energy-filled jobs, like original animation, and jobs like dubbing, which can leave you feeling like you're trapped in a booth.
Voice acting greats
If you're seeking a fun and artistic career, voice-over might be for you, but don't expect fame to come with it. You probably don't know of Tom Kenny or Peter Cullen, but you've almost definitely heard of Kenny's Spongebob Squarepants or Cullen's Optimus Prime. Hank Azaria has managed to appear in live-action films like Godzilla (1998) and The Smurfs (2011) while also performing more than 35 voices on The Simpsons. However, voice acting careers more often take after the legendary Looney Tunes voice of Mel Blanc who worked almost exclusively in voice-over. One way or another, voice acting is work that will both exhaust and reward.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150702baa776dad39c784f7dfabeafb0f099da4fcff80dc11b7506425d7bab173819e9145.wma
As you embark on a voice acting career, remember that your new environment is one that demands patience and hard work. You might start by recording bits for commercials or the voice people hear when the subway doors are closing. With some success, avenues for film or video game animation and documentary narration might be in your future. But even professionals take both energy-filled jobs, like original animation, and jobs like dubbing, which can leave you feeling like you're trapped in a booth.
Voice acting greats
If you're seeking a fun and artistic career, voice-over might be for you, but don't expect fame to come with it. You probably don't know of Tom Kenny or Peter Cullen, but you've almost definitely heard of Kenny's Spongebob Squarepants or Cullen's Optimus Prime. Hank Azaria has managed to appear in live-action films like Godzilla (1998) and The Smurfs (2011) while also performing more than 35 voices on The Simpsons. However, voice acting careers more often take after the legendary Looney Tunes voice of Mel Blanc who worked almost exclusively in voice-over. One way or another, voice acting is work that will both exhaust and reward.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150702baa776dad39c784f7dfabeafb0f099da4fcff80dc11b7506425d7bab173819e9145.wma
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
The Art of Voice Acting (1)
Being an invisible yet audible star
Do your friends or acquaintances ever compliment your voice for being interesting and unique? Do you enjoy doing silly voices and impressions, and are you a big fan of animated films and cartoons? If your answer is yes, voice acting might be a possible career for you, but don’t expect an easy road to success.
Getting started
Achieving professional status among voice actors is just as difficult as breaking into regular acting and singing. Likewise, you need to go to similar lengths of preparation as those performers before you can expect to find work.
If you’re serious about voice acting, you probably will want to enroll in acting classes and vocal lessons. Also, theimportance of producing a quality demo reel that representsyour talent cannot be emphasized enough.
Once you're armed with some good preparation, you'll want to contact a talent agency and start booking auditions. Unfortunately, this is basically impossible unless you live in a city where the voice-over industry is strong. Once you are getting consistent work, you will likely need to invest in a home studio with industry-level equipment.
Language Lab
Teaching Topic: Levels of Relationship 教學主題: 不同的人際關係
Hello, friends! What do you call someone whom you know but is not a close friend? That person might be considered an acquaintance.
That’s right. An acquaintance is a person you know but not well enough to be considered a friend. Some half jokingly say that an acquaintance is a person we know well enough to borrow money from but not well enough to lend money to.
That’s a good way to look at it. So the basic order of relationships might go something like this, stranger, acquaintance, friend, close friend and best friend.
And there’s even another level, Ken. The highest level of relationship is summed up in the popular term, soul mate. Soul mates are two people who are more than best friends. In addition to shared tastes and interests, they have a rare ability to connect on a very deep level emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.
So, can soul mates be people of the same sex? Sure. Soul mates can describe two people of the same sex, like sisters, for example, who are very close might use this term. But it’s more commonly used between people of the opposite sex. Finding a soul mate is a rare and precious thing.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150701baaae651299cb3dd422c09cd0a106518ab73af63bda609f5c00bd88be6345c25b30.wma
Do your friends or acquaintances ever compliment your voice for being interesting and unique? Do you enjoy doing silly voices and impressions, and are you a big fan of animated films and cartoons? If your answer is yes, voice acting might be a possible career for you, but don’t expect an easy road to success.
Getting started
Achieving professional status among voice actors is just as difficult as breaking into regular acting and singing. Likewise, you need to go to similar lengths of preparation as those performers before you can expect to find work.
If you’re serious about voice acting, you probably will want to enroll in acting classes and vocal lessons. Also, theimportance of producing a quality demo reel that representsyour talent cannot be emphasized enough.
Once you're armed with some good preparation, you'll want to contact a talent agency and start booking auditions. Unfortunately, this is basically impossible unless you live in a city where the voice-over industry is strong. Once you are getting consistent work, you will likely need to invest in a home studio with industry-level equipment.
Language Lab
Teaching Topic: Levels of Relationship 教學主題: 不同的人際關係
Hello, friends! What do you call someone whom you know but is not a close friend? That person might be considered an acquaintance.
That’s right. An acquaintance is a person you know but not well enough to be considered a friend. Some half jokingly say that an acquaintance is a person we know well enough to borrow money from but not well enough to lend money to.
That’s a good way to look at it. So the basic order of relationships might go something like this, stranger, acquaintance, friend, close friend and best friend.
And there’s even another level, Ken. The highest level of relationship is summed up in the popular term, soul mate. Soul mates are two people who are more than best friends. In addition to shared tastes and interests, they have a rare ability to connect on a very deep level emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.
So, can soul mates be people of the same sex? Sure. Soul mates can describe two people of the same sex, like sisters, for example, who are very close might use this term. But it’s more commonly used between people of the opposite sex. Finding a soul mate is a rare and precious thing.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150701baaae651299cb3dd422c09cd0a106518ab73af63bda609f5c00bd88be6345c25b30.wma
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
The Sound of Music (2)
Happy 50th anniversary to one of the world's most beloved musicals!
The plot
The Sound of Music tells the story of Maria, a young Austrian woman who is preparing to become a nun. For a temporary assignment, she becomes governess to seven children whose widowed father is often away from home. Maria introduces the unhappy children to the joy of music, and they form a choir. The children and their father grow to love Maria, and the couple gets married.
The story takes place as events leading up to World War II are escalating, and Germany has seized control of Austria.
In a dramatic ending, after the children compete and win the Salzburg Music Festival, the family begins their escape. They sneak away from the theater and walk across the snow-covered mountains into Switzerland to freedom!
A cultural phenomenon
Over the past 50 years, The Sound of Music has been staged in numerous places around the world. There have been performances in London, Japan, Sweden, Brazil, China and more. Audiences still flock to performances, thanks to a rich legacy of beautiful music and a classic story, left behind by the ever-popular 1965 film.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Thanks to Someone Is Not Thanking Someone 不帶感謝的Thanks to
thanks 指謝謝,
thank to 就不一定指謝謝
thanks to = because of 因為
thanks to you = because of you 因為你的原故
反諷用法: 多謝你...
No thanks to you! 你沒有任何工勞
Language Lab
widow v.
- The entrepreneur was brought up by his widowed mother.
widow n.
a woman whose husband has died
- The widow goes to her husband's tomb every month to mourn him.
widower n.
a man whose wife has died
- Lawrence is a widower with three young kids.
escalate v.
if fighting, violence, or a bad situation escalates, or if someone escalates it, it becomes much worse
- The tension between the two countries has escalated since the conflict at the border took place.
- The protest escalated into weeks of riots.
escalator n.
a set of moving stairs that take people to different levels in a building
- Take the escalator downstairs, and you'll find the supermarket.
sneak v.
past tense and past participle sneaked or snuck
to go somewhere secretly and quietly in order to avoid being seen or heard
- Josh snuck out of the meeting for a coffee break.
- Karl snuck into his room without letting anyone know he was back.
legacy n.
something that happens or exists as a result of things that happened at an earlier time
- The Italians have a rich cultural and political legacy from the Roman Empire.
money or property that you receive from someone after they die [= inheritance]:
- Henry's grandfather left him a legacy of $100,000.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150303baa3b48a007832f05769468be721f9daf89bbda3e2a6beee156727498d1a4ccf7e2.wma
The plot
The Sound of Music tells the story of Maria, a young Austrian woman who is preparing to become a nun. For a temporary assignment, she becomes governess to seven children whose widowed father is often away from home. Maria introduces the unhappy children to the joy of music, and they form a choir. The children and their father grow to love Maria, and the couple gets married.
The story takes place as events leading up to World War II are escalating, and Germany has seized control of Austria.
In a dramatic ending, after the children compete and win the Salzburg Music Festival, the family begins their escape. They sneak away from the theater and walk across the snow-covered mountains into Switzerland to freedom!
A cultural phenomenon
Over the past 50 years, The Sound of Music has been staged in numerous places around the world. There have been performances in London, Japan, Sweden, Brazil, China and more. Audiences still flock to performances, thanks to a rich legacy of beautiful music and a classic story, left behind by the ever-popular 1965 film.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Thanks to Someone Is Not Thanking Someone 不帶感謝的Thanks to
thanks 指謝謝,
thank to 就不一定指謝謝
thanks to = because of 因為
thanks to you = because of you 因為你的原故
反諷用法: 多謝你...
No thanks to you! 你沒有任何工勞
Language Lab
widow v.
- The entrepreneur was brought up by his widowed mother.
widow n.
a woman whose husband has died
- The widow goes to her husband's tomb every month to mourn him.
widower n.
a man whose wife has died
- Lawrence is a widower with three young kids.
escalate v.
if fighting, violence, or a bad situation escalates, or if someone escalates it, it becomes much worse
- The tension between the two countries has escalated since the conflict at the border took place.
- The protest escalated into weeks of riots.
escalator n.
a set of moving stairs that take people to different levels in a building
- Take the escalator downstairs, and you'll find the supermarket.
sneak v.
past tense and past participle sneaked or snuck
to go somewhere secretly and quietly in order to avoid being seen or heard
- Josh snuck out of the meeting for a coffee break.
- Karl snuck into his room without letting anyone know he was back.
legacy n.
something that happens or exists as a result of things that happened at an earlier time
- The Italians have a rich cultural and political legacy from the Roman Empire.
money or property that you receive from someone after they die [= inheritance]:
- Henry's grandfather left him a legacy of $100,000.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150303baa3b48a007832f05769468be721f9daf89bbda3e2a6beee156727498d1a4ccf7e2.wma
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Holiday Movies (2)
Several films will please both young and old. The penguins of Madagascar are back in their own film, Penguins of Madagascar.
Follow Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico as they chase spies as only penguins can. In Paddington, a family gives a home to a talking bear they find in Paddington Station. He is from Peru and loves all things British. The family must protect him from a museum taxidermist who wants to stuff him for display.
More laughs are promised in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. In the third film of the series, objects in the British Museum in London come to life.
A new remake of the musical film Annie is sure to delight audiences. The story takes place in modern day New York City. Annie, a young, happy foster child, played by Quvenzhane Wallis, has a hard life. Her life changes when a rich man, played by Jamie Foxx, takes her in. They end up helping each other.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Home vs. House (Home和House的差別)
home 聽起來比house 溫馨多了
homeowner 房屋持有人
retirement home 退休人士住的房屋
nursing home 老人院
Make yourself at home. 把這裡當做你家!
Grammar Gym
Several films will please both young and old.
both young and old= anybody
- The restaurant's new menu is sure to please both children and adults.
- The pet store's products and services will please both dog-lovers and cat-lovers.
Language Lab
spy n. plural spies
someone whose job it is to find out secret information about another country, organization, or group [= secret agent]
- The spies were discovered and captured by their enemy.
to secretly collect information about an enemy country or an organization you are competing against
- This secret agent has been spying for his country for over 10 years.
spy on
- The police spied on the suspect, waiting to catch him in the act.
stuff v.
to fill something until it is full:
- Mom visited me and stuffed my fridge with all her home-cooked dishes.
- The suitcase is completely full. I can't stuff any more into it.
delight v.
to give someone great satisfaction and enjoyment:
- Isaac's great performance in both academics and sports delighted his parents.
to enjoy something very much, especially something that other people think is not nice:
- Michael delights in spending time with his children.
delight n.
a feeling of great pleasure and satisfaction
- What a delight to see you again!
foster adj.
the people who foster a child
- The abused child was placed in a foster home temporarily.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141202baaa49b3654f15a271095781a04cfa7a22397136ccbbf5074083aa73d351e521be3.wma
Follow Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico as they chase spies as only penguins can. In Paddington, a family gives a home to a talking bear they find in Paddington Station. He is from Peru and loves all things British. The family must protect him from a museum taxidermist who wants to stuff him for display.
More laughs are promised in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. In the third film of the series, objects in the British Museum in London come to life.
A new remake of the musical film Annie is sure to delight audiences. The story takes place in modern day New York City. Annie, a young, happy foster child, played by Quvenzhane Wallis, has a hard life. Her life changes when a rich man, played by Jamie Foxx, takes her in. They end up helping each other.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Home vs. House (Home和House的差別)
home 聽起來比house 溫馨多了
homeowner 房屋持有人
retirement home 退休人士住的房屋
nursing home 老人院
Make yourself at home. 把這裡當做你家!
Grammar Gym
Several films will please both young and old.
both young and old= anybody
- The restaurant's new menu is sure to please both children and adults.
- The pet store's products and services will please both dog-lovers and cat-lovers.
Language Lab
spy n. plural spies
someone whose job it is to find out secret information about another country, organization, or group [= secret agent]
- The spies were discovered and captured by their enemy.
to secretly collect information about an enemy country or an organization you are competing against
- This secret agent has been spying for his country for over 10 years.
spy on
- The police spied on the suspect, waiting to catch him in the act.
stuff v.
to fill something until it is full:
- Mom visited me and stuffed my fridge with all her home-cooked dishes.
- The suitcase is completely full. I can't stuff any more into it.
delight v.
to give someone great satisfaction and enjoyment:
- Isaac's great performance in both academics and sports delighted his parents.
to enjoy something very much, especially something that other people think is not nice:
- Michael delights in spending time with his children.
delight n.
a feeling of great pleasure and satisfaction
- What a delight to see you again!
foster adj.
the people who foster a child
- The abused child was placed in a foster home temporarily.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141202baaa49b3654f15a271095781a04cfa7a22397136ccbbf5074083aa73d351e521be3.wma
Monday, December 1, 2014
Holiday Movies (1)
Head to a theater near you for action and adventure!
Santa is not the only one making a list and checking it twice this season. Movie fans are doing the same! At the top of many lists is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. Jennifer Lawrence again stars in part one of the two-part sequel to 2013’s Catching Fire. In the film, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But the Capitol is angry and wants revenge – on Katniss.
Another hero hits the big screen this winter, too. Exodus: Gods and Kings is a retelling of the epic story of Moses. The story follows Moses as he escapes death as a baby. He is adopted by an Egyptian royal family. He then goes against Pharaoh to free the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, tells another powerful true story of a hero. Before World War II, Louis Zamperini was an Olympic runner. During World War II he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and endured a lot.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Two Different Theaters 是看戲還是看電影？
theater 是電影院還是戲劇院
the theater 有加定冠詞 指的是戲劇院
- I'm going to the theater. 我要去戲劇院
movie theater 電影院, 但movie常常會被省略
your local theater 你家附近的電影院
cinema 美式用法另一種電影院說法
movie tickets 電影票
theater tickets 戲劇院的票
Grammar Gym
Another hero hits the big screen this winter, too.
hit:
- The car hit the bus.
hit: to appear or arrive at or in a place
big screen: movie theaters
- The writer's newest book will hit major bookstores before Christmas.
- If you continue down this road, you will hit Main Street.
Language Lab
adventure n.
an exciting experience in which dangerous or unusual things happen:
- The movie is about an adventure to a wonderland.
willingness to try new things, take risks etc:
- Sean is bored with his calm and normal life. He craves adventure.
revenge n.
[uncountable] something you do in order to punish someone who has harmed or offended you
- The victim wants revenge for the damage done by the hit-and-run driver.
in revenge for something
- The attacker did this in revenge for the damage these people did to his family.
adopt v.
to take someone else's child into your home and legally become its parent
- After a thorough discussion, the couple decided to adopt this African boy.
- Henry didn't know that he was adopted until he was 20.
adoption n.
the act or process of adopting a child:
- The process of adoption is incredibly complicated.
endure v.
to be in a difficult or painful situation for a long time without complaining:
- The patient endured a long and difficult cycle of chemotherapy.
chemotherapy n.
the use of drugs to control and try to cure cancer
- The girl endured a lot of hurt and pain from her parents.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141201baada6c5564c6361e9f1ddeafe3b1cd588f3f4ea63f839d0581d2aba519e22d5203.wma
Santa is not the only one making a list and checking it twice this season. Movie fans are doing the same! At the top of many lists is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. Jennifer Lawrence again stars in part one of the two-part sequel to 2013’s Catching Fire. In the film, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But the Capitol is angry and wants revenge – on Katniss.
Another hero hits the big screen this winter, too. Exodus: Gods and Kings is a retelling of the epic story of Moses. The story follows Moses as he escapes death as a baby. He is adopted by an Egyptian royal family. He then goes against Pharaoh to free the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, tells another powerful true story of a hero. Before World War II, Louis Zamperini was an Olympic runner. During World War II he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and endured a lot.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Two Different Theaters 是看戲還是看電影？
theater 是電影院還是戲劇院
the theater 有加定冠詞 指的是戲劇院
- I'm going to the theater. 我要去戲劇院
movie theater 電影院, 但movie常常會被省略
your local theater 你家附近的電影院
cinema 美式用法另一種電影院說法
movie tickets 電影票
theater tickets 戲劇院的票
Grammar Gym
Another hero hits the big screen this winter, too.
hit:
- The car hit the bus.
hit: to appear or arrive at or in a place
big screen: movie theaters
- The writer's newest book will hit major bookstores before Christmas.
- If you continue down this road, you will hit Main Street.
Language Lab
adventure n.
an exciting experience in which dangerous or unusual things happen:
- The movie is about an adventure to a wonderland.
willingness to try new things, take risks etc:
- Sean is bored with his calm and normal life. He craves adventure.
revenge n.
[uncountable] something you do in order to punish someone who has harmed or offended you
- The victim wants revenge for the damage done by the hit-and-run driver.
in revenge for something
- The attacker did this in revenge for the damage these people did to his family.
adopt v.
to take someone else's child into your home and legally become its parent
- After a thorough discussion, the couple decided to adopt this African boy.
- Henry didn't know that he was adopted until he was 20.
adoption n.
the act or process of adopting a child:
- The process of adoption is incredibly complicated.
endure v.
to be in a difficult or painful situation for a long time without complaining:
- The patient endured a long and difficult cycle of chemotherapy.
chemotherapy n.
the use of drugs to control and try to cure cancer
- The girl endured a lot of hurt and pain from her parents.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141201baada6c5564c6361e9f1ddeafe3b1cd588f3f4ea63f839d0581d2aba519e22d5203.wma
Thursday, September 25, 2014
[Advanced] Colin Firth on Stardom (2)
The perks and perils of acting
For Firth, who has starred in musicals (Mamma Mia!), romantic romps (Bridget Jones's Diary) and shadowy capers (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), it comes down to what feels right in the moment. Sometimes, he's up for a lark. Other times, he craves something more serious.
"I find the criteria change every time. This one, heavily weighing in the scales was the importance of the story and why the hell wasn't it told," says Firth. And for Irvine, a World War II buff, it came down to the importance of telling this particular story. "It's also a movie about the very best in people."
In the spotlight
Firth, dapper and debonair as he is, is someone who lives his life behind closed doors, by choice. He's married to Italian environmental activist Livia Giuggioli, and has three sons.
"It's not my life plan to be private but I've never intended otherwise. I've never had an instinct to do it any other way. When I was Jeremy's age, I never imagined my work would put me in front of a camera. I liked doing plays. I didn't bargain for any level of recognition, really," says Firth.
For Irvine, it's still a learning process when he's recognized. "When someone catches you off-guard, when you're out shopping, I often think I'm more nervous than them," he says.
On dealing with inappropriate questions: Firth says his mantra is, deflect with grace whenever possible. "People will want to see if they can create copy by getting a rise out of you. It's pretty rare. Hands up. I'm not that affable. I'm here and I'm on my best behavior because I'm doing an interview," says Firth. "This is my best behavior and I also have my worst. I just try not to take it out into public life."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140925ada8ee8fb29f4fb058597530a8f31e66288d5fd3532ead201a542f5f74168644862.wma
For Firth, who has starred in musicals (Mamma Mia!), romantic romps (Bridget Jones's Diary) and shadowy capers (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), it comes down to what feels right in the moment. Sometimes, he's up for a lark. Other times, he craves something more serious.
"I find the criteria change every time. This one, heavily weighing in the scales was the importance of the story and why the hell wasn't it told," says Firth. And for Irvine, a World War II buff, it came down to the importance of telling this particular story. "It's also a movie about the very best in people."
In the spotlight
Firth, dapper and debonair as he is, is someone who lives his life behind closed doors, by choice. He's married to Italian environmental activist Livia Giuggioli, and has three sons.
"It's not my life plan to be private but I've never intended otherwise. I've never had an instinct to do it any other way. When I was Jeremy's age, I never imagined my work would put me in front of a camera. I liked doing plays. I didn't bargain for any level of recognition, really," says Firth.
For Irvine, it's still a learning process when he's recognized. "When someone catches you off-guard, when you're out shopping, I often think I'm more nervous than them," he says.
On dealing with inappropriate questions: Firth says his mantra is, deflect with grace whenever possible. "People will want to see if they can create copy by getting a rise out of you. It's pretty rare. Hands up. I'm not that affable. I'm here and I'm on my best behavior because I'm doing an interview," says Firth. "This is my best behavior and I also have my worst. I just try not to take it out into public life."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140925ada8ee8fb29f4fb058597530a8f31e66288d5fd3532ead201a542f5f74168644862.wma
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
[Advanced] Colin Firth on Stardom (1)
An interview with Colin Firth and Jeremy Irvine as they discuss their chosen career
When it comes to mentors, you could do a lot worse than eloquent, elegant and cinematically agile Colin Firth. Yet he's the last person who'll bombard anyone with bombastic bits of wisdom.
But what's the most sage bit of advice the British Oscar winner can share with Jeremy Irvine, 24, who plays the younger version of the actor in The Railway Man?
"I can't think of anything," demurs Firth, 53. "" But wait, interjects Irvine, "'You did the other day. You said, 'Treat it like a romp.'''
Firth nods. He recalls something a friend once shared with him years back about never taking himself all that seriously. And given his mastery of self-deprecation, it's a lesson Firth took to heart.
"All we do is what we like. We put on costumes and pretend, which is very similar to what I was doing when I was 5." says Firth.
'Treat your work with respect'
And yet, says Firth, treat your work, and those who do it with you, with respect. "Every so often, you get brought up short that you had a brush with something important. This story is important and you're entrusted with that," he says of his and Irvine's film, about a tortured World War II prisoner who forgives his tormentors.
Firth and Irvine have a pretty solid connection.
Firth still makes ladies swoon for his portrayal of dreamy Mr. Darcy in the 1995 British TV adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and won a best-actor Oscar for playing a stuttering monarch in 2010's The King's Speech. And Irvine carried Steven Spielberg's 2011 epic War Horse before being hand-picked by Firth to play the youthful version of train engineer turned POW Eric Lomax in The Railway Man.
Vocabulary Focus
eloquent adj.
able to express your ideas and opinions well, especially in a way that influences people:
bombard v.
to do something too often or too much, for example criticizing or questioning someone, or giving too much information:
- They bombarded him with questions.
bombastic adj.
using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you know more than you do
romp n.
a funny and energetic situation
demur v.
to express disagreement or refusal to do something
self-deprecation n.
the act of making yourself, your abilities or your achievements seem less important
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140924ada3b1e4310205206419d432110932a4c9cc2fb7d37ed8d6c027ee4e39fd8efd564.wma
When it comes to mentors, you could do a lot worse than eloquent, elegant and cinematically agile Colin Firth. Yet he's the last person who'll bombard anyone with bombastic bits of wisdom.
But what's the most sage bit of advice the British Oscar winner can share with Jeremy Irvine, 24, who plays the younger version of the actor in The Railway Man?
"I can't think of anything," demurs Firth, 53. "" But wait, interjects Irvine, "'You did the other day. You said, 'Treat it like a romp.'''
Firth nods. He recalls something a friend once shared with him years back about never taking himself all that seriously. And given his mastery of self-deprecation, it's a lesson Firth took to heart.
"All we do is what we like. We put on costumes and pretend, which is very similar to what I was doing when I was 5." says Firth.
'Treat your work with respect'
And yet, says Firth, treat your work, and those who do it with you, with respect. "Every so often, you get brought up short that you had a brush with something important. This story is important and you're entrusted with that," he says of his and Irvine's film, about a tortured World War II prisoner who forgives his tormentors.
Firth and Irvine have a pretty solid connection.
Firth still makes ladies swoon for his portrayal of dreamy Mr. Darcy in the 1995 British TV adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and won a best-actor Oscar for playing a stuttering monarch in 2010's The King's Speech. And Irvine carried Steven Spielberg's 2011 epic War Horse before being hand-picked by Firth to play the youthful version of train engineer turned POW Eric Lomax in The Railway Man.
Vocabulary Focus
eloquent adj.
able to express your ideas and opinions well, especially in a way that influences people:
bombard v.
to do something too often or too much, for example criticizing or questioning someone, or giving too much information:
- They bombarded him with questions.
bombastic adj.
using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you know more than you do
romp n.
a funny and energetic situation
demur v.
to express disagreement or refusal to do something
self-deprecation n.
the act of making yourself, your abilities or your achievements seem less important
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140924ada3b1e4310205206419d432110932a4c9cc2fb7d37ed8d6c027ee4e39fd8efd564.wma
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
The Wizard of Oz (2)
"Over the Rainbow"
In 1899, writer L. Frank Baum wrote the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It quickly became the most popular children's book of the day, and Baum followed it with a series of "Oz" books. He and others produced stage shows and silent film versions of the story. But when movie studio MGM released The Wizard of Oz in 1939, all previous versions were basically forgotten.
The talented 17-year-old Judy Garland brought Dorothy Gale to life, and Garland would forever be associated with the role. Audiences related to young Dorothy, who dreamed about a place beyond the rainbow where troubles were far, far away.
America was in the midst of the Great Depression, and moviegoers were like Dorothy. They wanted to escape and forget their problems, if only for a little while.
The film has appeared on American TV almost every since 1959. Many families have made it an annual tradition to watch the film together. Once the movie begins, the magic never fades, and viewers are transported once again to the wonderful Land of Oz!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Movie vs. Film (Movie 和 Film的差別)
film & movie 都是指電影, 可以替換著用
但如果要細分, film指的是比較有深度的電影,
影展就叫做 film festival
movie 比較用於商業性質的商業片,
電影也可以稱為 the big screen (大螢幕),
這個字可以當名詞, 例如:
- What's playing on the big screen?
也可以當形容詞:
- He is a big-screen star. = He is a movie star.
相對的, the small screen指的是電視
Grammar Gym
They wanted to escape and forget their problems, if only for a little while.
- I know Uncle James is busy, but I would still like to see him, if only to say hello.
Language Lab
series n.
a set of television or radio programmes that have the same characters or deal with the same type of subject, and are usually broadcast every week or several times a week:
- The TV series "Lost" was very popular among teens.
several events or actions of a similar type that happen one after the other:
- A series of explosions took place in the city last week.
associate v.
to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another
- Even though many years have passed, people still associate Britney Spears with Justin Timberlake.
associate with somebody
to spend time with someone, especially someone that other people disapprove
- The teacher warned him not to associate with those dropouts.
annual adj.
happening once a year:
- The foundation's annual conference will be held in L.A.
- The department's annual budget was cut by 15 percent.
annually adv.
- All employee's salaries are reviewed annually.
viewer n.
someone who watches television:
- Millions of viewers anticipated watching the World Series.
audience n.
a group of people who come to watch and listen to someone speaking or performing in public
- The audience was amazed by the performer.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140826baa47111136738c1014f89ca36ff8e0e961a9b44c84d823508e09b7d854e85bee8b.wma
In 1899, writer L. Frank Baum wrote the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It quickly became the most popular children's book of the day, and Baum followed it with a series of "Oz" books. He and others produced stage shows and silent film versions of the story. But when movie studio MGM released The Wizard of Oz in 1939, all previous versions were basically forgotten.
The talented 17-year-old Judy Garland brought Dorothy Gale to life, and Garland would forever be associated with the role. Audiences related to young Dorothy, who dreamed about a place beyond the rainbow where troubles were far, far away.
America was in the midst of the Great Depression, and moviegoers were like Dorothy. They wanted to escape and forget their problems, if only for a little while.
The film has appeared on American TV almost every since 1959. Many families have made it an annual tradition to watch the film together. Once the movie begins, the magic never fades, and viewers are transported once again to the wonderful Land of Oz!
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Movie vs. Film (Movie 和 Film的差別)
film & movie 都是指電影, 可以替換著用
但如果要細分, film指的是比較有深度的電影,
影展就叫做 film festival
movie 比較用於商業性質的商業片,
電影也可以稱為 the big screen (大螢幕),
這個字可以當名詞, 例如:
- What's playing on the big screen?
也可以當形容詞:
- He is a big-screen star. = He is a movie star.
相對的, the small screen指的是電視
Grammar Gym
They wanted to escape and forget their problems, if only for a little while.
if only: if there are no other reasons or choices
- Let's go to the museum, if only to see the outside of the building.- I know Uncle James is busy, but I would still like to see him, if only to say hello.
Language Lab
series n.
a set of television or radio programmes that have the same characters or deal with the same type of subject, and are usually broadcast every week or several times a week:
- The TV series "Lost" was very popular among teens.
several events or actions of a similar type that happen one after the other:
- A series of explosions took place in the city last week.
associate v.
to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another
- Even though many years have passed, people still associate Britney Spears with Justin Timberlake.
associate with somebody
to spend time with someone, especially someone that other people disapprove
- The teacher warned him not to associate with those dropouts.
annual adj.
happening once a year:
- The foundation's annual conference will be held in L.A.
- The department's annual budget was cut by 15 percent.
annually adv.
- All employee's salaries are reviewed annually.
viewer n.
someone who watches television:
- Millions of viewers anticipated watching the World Series.
audience n.
a group of people who come to watch and listen to someone speaking or performing in public
- The audience was amazed by the performer.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140826baa47111136738c1014f89ca36ff8e0e961a9b44c84d823508e09b7d854e85bee8b.wma
Monday, August 25, 2014
The Wizard of Oz (1)
Happy 75th Anniversary to this beloved classic film!
"There's no place like home!"
This famous line from The wizard of Oz touched hearts worldwide as moviegoers journeyed into a world of enchantment. The film opened in 1939, a year movie buffs consider Hollywood's "Golden year" since many memorable films played that year. Perhaps no other movie, though, has had impact of Oz with its story of friendship, adventure and love. Generations have enjoyed the film's great songs, lively dances and heartwarming story.
The plot
Early in the movie, young Dorothy Gale resents her drab existence on a Kansas farm. As she sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," she longs for a different life.
When a tornado blows through, Dorothy is hit on the head and awakens in a strange, new land --Oz! There, she meets three new friends, and they set off to find the Wizard of Oz. They believe the wizard can solve all of their problems. However, he helps them realize they have the solutions within themselves. While in Oz, Dorothy has many remarkable encounters but comes to realize there is "no place like home."
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: What Is an Anniversary? (Anniversary涵義為何?)
anniversary 週年紀念
annum 在拉丁文表示年
75th Anniversary 75週年紀念
有些人想要慶祝一個月的紀念日,
他們就會用 one-month anniversary,
或是一星期的紀念日 one-week anniversary,
但這不符合anniversary的定義的用法,
所以就有人創造出 monthiversary , lunaversary 來表示週月紀念日,
但不是所有的人都可以聽的懂,
所以最好用形容的方示來表達,
- Let's celebrate being together for one month.
Grammar Gym
The film opened in 1939, a year movie buffs consider Hollywood's "Golden year" since many memorable films played that year.
[Subject]+[verb]+[object], a [something]+[someone]+[has an opinion] since [reason].
- Many tourists go to Yosemite National Park to see Half Dome, a rock many consider to be unique because of its shape.
- The castle garden is full of lilies, a flower many experts consider to be the unofficial royal flower since it appears in various designs all around the castle.
Language Lab
enchantment n. 魅力；迷人之處
[uncountable] the quality of being very pleasant or attractive:
- The beautiful scene of the castle filled us with enchantment.
generation n. 世代；一代
all people of about the same age:
- Five generations of my family gathered at our reunion.
- Our young generation is full of creativity and willing to take risks.
resent v. 厭惡；憤慨
to feel angry or upset about a situation or about something that someone has done, especially because you think that it is not fair
- I resent the newspaper's exaggeration and distortion of the issue.
resentment n.
a feeling of anger because something has happened that you think is unfair [= bitterness]
- He feel s a deep resentment toward anyone who's in power because he was abused as a child.
encounter n. 碰到；遭遇；相遇
an occasion when you meet someone, or do something with someone you do not know:
- I had a remarkable encounter with a leopard during my trip to Africa.
- Tomorrow will be our team's first encounter with last year's champions. I hope we can beat them! encounter v.
to experience something, especially problems or opposition
- Steven encountered his high school teacher on a bus.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140825baa64d97d6837cb94e505ecfb4c78141a29c3a059f02abaab4660260f979c6f0566.wma
"There's no place like home!"
This famous line from The wizard of Oz touched hearts worldwide as moviegoers journeyed into a world of enchantment. The film opened in 1939, a year movie buffs consider Hollywood's "Golden year" since many memorable films played that year. Perhaps no other movie, though, has had impact of Oz with its story of friendship, adventure and love. Generations have enjoyed the film's great songs, lively dances and heartwarming story.
The plot
Early in the movie, young Dorothy Gale resents her drab existence on a Kansas farm. As she sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," she longs for a different life.
When a tornado blows through, Dorothy is hit on the head and awakens in a strange, new land --Oz! There, she meets three new friends, and they set off to find the Wizard of Oz. They believe the wizard can solve all of their problems. However, he helps them realize they have the solutions within themselves. While in Oz, Dorothy has many remarkable encounters but comes to realize there is "no place like home."
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: What Is an Anniversary? (Anniversary涵義為何?)
anniversary 週年紀念
annum 在拉丁文表示年
75th Anniversary 75週年紀念
有些人想要慶祝一個月的紀念日,
他們就會用 one-month anniversary,
或是一星期的紀念日 one-week anniversary,
但這不符合anniversary的定義的用法,
所以就有人創造出 monthiversary , lunaversary 來表示週月紀念日,
但不是所有的人都可以聽的懂,
所以最好用形容的方示來表達,
- Let's celebrate being together for one month.
Grammar Gym
The film opened in 1939, a year movie buffs consider Hollywood's "Golden year" since many memorable films played that year.
[Subject]+[verb]+[object], a [something]+[someone]+[has an opinion] since [reason].
- Many tourists go to Yosemite National Park to see Half Dome, a rock many consider to be unique because of its shape.
- The castle garden is full of lilies, a flower many experts consider to be the unofficial royal flower since it appears in various designs all around the castle.
Language Lab
enchantment n. 魅力；迷人之處
[uncountable] the quality of being very pleasant or attractive:
- The beautiful scene of the castle filled us with enchantment.
enchant v. 使喜歡；使著迷；施魔法
if something that you see or hear enchants you, you like it very much:
- Diane was so enchanted by the house that she decided to buy it.generation n. 世代；一代
all people of about the same age:
- Five generations of my family gathered at our reunion.
- Our young generation is full of creativity and willing to take risks.
resent v. 厭惡；憤慨
to feel angry or upset about a situation or about something that someone has done, especially because you think that it is not fair
- I resent the newspaper's exaggeration and distortion of the issue.
resentment n.
a feeling of anger because something has happened that you think is unfair [= bitterness]
- He feel s a deep resentment toward anyone who's in power because he was abused as a child.
encounter n. 碰到；遭遇；相遇
an occasion when you meet someone, or do something with someone you do not know:
- I had a remarkable encounter with a leopard during my trip to Africa.
- Tomorrow will be our team's first encounter with last year's champions. I hope we can beat them! encounter v.
to experience something, especially problems or opposition
- Steven encountered his high school teacher on a bus.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140825baa64d97d6837cb94e505ecfb4c78141a29c3a059f02abaab4660260f979c6f0566.wma
Monday, January 6, 2014
[Advanced] Move Over, Boys (1)
Young women are rapidly taking charge in the world of science fiction
by Nicole Sperling / © 2013, Los Angeles Times. Distributed by MCT Information Services.
Katniss Everdeen never intended to become an icon for a struggling people. Yet the scrappy, resourceful heroine at the heart of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy, with her incomparable archery skills and defiant spirit, became a rare sort of pop-culture touch point precisely because she [was] embraced by a sometimes lost, sometimes achingly restless tribe: adolescents.
But the wily teen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, didn’t only inspire Collins’ readers and the filmgoers who turned up for Gary Ross’ movie adaptation of The Hunger Games. Her success has also helped fuel a continuing, voracious appetite in Hollywood for sci-fi tales featuring young women in empowered roles.
“I’m a very strong advocate of taking charge and being a wild woman,” said Shailene Woodley, who stars in [2014’s] Divergent. Set in a dystopian future Chicago, Veronica Roth’s series of novels center on a world where teens are herded together based on specific skills and attributes—when 16-year-old Beatrice Prior finds herself gifted in multiple areas, she’s labeled as an outcast, one who finds herself in a position to affect the future of humanity.
“I think it’s really profound that right now there are so many opportunities in film that depict young women as strong, courageous and taking care of themselves,” said Woodley, who [plays] Beatrice in the film.
Getting more attention
The Hunger Games and Divergent both [took] center stage at San Diego’s Comic-Con International, the annual pop-culture expo that routinely draws more than 130,000 people from around the world for a celebration of movies, TV and comic books. The convention does not reveal precise attendance figures; the demographics for the event skew male, though the number of women attending has increased every year for the last 10 to 15 years, with the ratio now 60 to 40 male-female.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140106ada29f594e58d428e19374ad569c3e6d7db1448417e6c77e8816521ac5a7be0e6ae.wma
by Nicole Sperling / © 2013, Los Angeles Times. Distributed by MCT Information Services.
Katniss Everdeen never intended to become an icon for a struggling people. Yet the scrappy, resourceful heroine at the heart of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy, with her incomparable archery skills and defiant spirit, became a rare sort of pop-culture touch point precisely because she [was] embraced by a sometimes lost, sometimes achingly restless tribe: adolescents.
But the wily teen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, didn’t only inspire Collins’ readers and the filmgoers who turned up for Gary Ross’ movie adaptation of The Hunger Games. Her success has also helped fuel a continuing, voracious appetite in Hollywood for sci-fi tales featuring young women in empowered roles.
“I’m a very strong advocate of taking charge and being a wild woman,” said Shailene Woodley, who stars in [2014’s] Divergent. Set in a dystopian future Chicago, Veronica Roth’s series of novels center on a world where teens are herded together based on specific skills and attributes—when 16-year-old Beatrice Prior finds herself gifted in multiple areas, she’s labeled as an outcast, one who finds herself in a position to affect the future of humanity.
“I think it’s really profound that right now there are so many opportunities in film that depict young women as strong, courageous and taking care of themselves,” said Woodley, who [plays] Beatrice in the film.
Getting more attention
The Hunger Games and Divergent both [took] center stage at San Diego’s Comic-Con International, the annual pop-culture expo that routinely draws more than 130,000 people from around the world for a celebration of movies, TV and comic books. The convention does not reveal precise attendance figures; the demographics for the event skew male, though the number of women attending has increased every year for the last 10 to 15 years, with the ratio now 60 to 40 male-female.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140106ada29f594e58d428e19374ad569c3e6d7db1448417e6c77e8816521ac5a7be0e6ae.wma
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Holiday Movies for Everyone (1) (2) (3)
Holiday films really bring in the crowds
Alien enemies, icy adventures, Middle Earth... the 2013 holiday film season offers it all! Many people watch films at home or online. But there is still nothing like seeing a film in a theater with other people. What awaits moviegoers this holiday season?
Science-fiction fans are excited about Ender's Game. The people of Earth must work together to save themselves after an alien war. They choose Ender Wiggen, a smart, quiet boy, and send him to battle school. Everyone hopes he will be the one to save them all.
Chris Hemsworth is back as the powerful Thor in Thor: The Dark World. A young woman, Jane Foster, is threatened by evil beings. Thor must battle to save her.The Hunger Games: Catching Fire finds Jennifer Lawrence returning as Katniss. She must go on a victory tour after winning the 74th annual Hunger Games. Preparations begin for the 75th annual Hunger Games. Those games could change Panem forever.
In the animated film Frozen, the kingdom of Arendelle lies trapped in winter. Anna's sister Elsa is responsible for the spell. Anna teams up with tough mountain man Kristoff and his reindeer Sven. They must find Elsa and save the kingdom before it's too late.
In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Bilbo and his friends have crossed the Misty Mountains. Now they must travel through Mirkwood Forest. But they must go without the wizard Gandalf. Will they make it to Lonely Mountain where the dragon Smaug guards the dwarfs' gold?
The film The Monuments Men is based on a true story. A group of art historians and museum people must work together. They race against time to get back some stolen artwork before Hitler can destroy it.
What was life like when dinosaurs walked on Earth? Find out in Walking with Dinosaurs. Viewers will feel like they are part of the dinosaurs' world. And some things in that world are very dangerous!
-----
Action adventure 47 Ronin is set in 18th-century Japan. A group of samurai must avenge their master's death.
Adventure finds a most unlikely person in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Walter, a timid magazine photo manager, lives a quiet life. Exciting things only happen to him in his dreams. But when a negative disappears, Walter finds himself in a real-life adventure!
Audiences loved Mary Poppins, but the film almost didn't get made! The film Saving Mr. Banks tells the story of Walt Disney and author P.L. Travers. Disney talked her into allowing him to make a movie of her story. Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson star.
Movie star Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco and became Princess Grace. Grace of Monaco tells how she helped save Monaco from a looming French invasion in the early 1960s.
These are a few of the films that offer you the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful story this winter. Don't miss them!
Grammar Gym
... elipses
acts like an em dash ("-") to show that an additional idea is coming up
- "Alien enemies, icy adventures, Middle Earth... the 2013 holiday film season offers it all!"
- I would like to take a trip... anywhere is fine.
- You can put all kinds of fruit on your shaved ice: strawberries, peaches, pineapple... anything you like.
Info Cloud
based on a true story 根據真實故事改篇/ inspired by actual event 電影改編
artistic license 藝術破格:藝術家對作品表現方式的自由 (license在這指許可, 放縱)
Language Lab
avenge v.
to do something to hurt or punish someone because they have harmed or offended you
- The boy swore to avenge his mother's murder.
avenge oneself on someone
- The policeman avenged himself on the man who killed his partner.
negative adj.
harmful, unpleasant, or not wanted
considering only the bad qualities of a situation, person etc and not the good ones
- negative thoughts
negative n.
an image on a photographic film that shows dark areas as light and light areas as dark, from which the final picture is printed
- I took the negatives to the photo shop to be developed.
- Chelsea still has the black-and-white negatives of her wedding photos.
timid adj.
/ˈtɪməd/
not having courage or confidence [= shy; ≠ confident]:
timidity n.
/təˈmɪdəti/
audience n. [audio-聽, 聽覺有關的]
a group of people who gather together to listen to something (such as a concert) or watch something (such as a movie or play) : the people who attend a performance
- The studio audience cheered when the producer gave them the signal.
- This popular band has audiences around the globe.
loom v.
if a problem or difficulty looms, it is likely to happen very soon
- With the super typhoon looming, all residents along coastal areas were evacuated.
to appear as a large unclear shape, especially in a threatening way
- Suddenly a strange guy loomed out of the fog.
Alien enemies, icy adventures, Middle Earth... the 2013 holiday film season offers it all! Many people watch films at home or online. But there is still nothing like seeing a film in a theater with other people. What awaits moviegoers this holiday season?
Science-fiction fans are excited about Ender's Game. The people of Earth must work together to save themselves after an alien war. They choose Ender Wiggen, a smart, quiet boy, and send him to battle school. Everyone hopes he will be the one to save them all.
Chris Hemsworth is back as the powerful Thor in Thor: The Dark World. A young woman, Jane Foster, is threatened by evil beings. Thor must battle to save her.The Hunger Games: Catching Fire finds Jennifer Lawrence returning as Katniss. She must go on a victory tour after winning the 74th annual Hunger Games. Preparations begin for the 75th annual Hunger Games. Those games could change Panem forever.
In the animated film Frozen, the kingdom of Arendelle lies trapped in winter. Anna's sister Elsa is responsible for the spell. Anna teams up with tough mountain man Kristoff and his reindeer Sven. They must find Elsa and save the kingdom before it's too late.
In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Bilbo and his friends have crossed the Misty Mountains. Now they must travel through Mirkwood Forest. But they must go without the wizard Gandalf. Will they make it to Lonely Mountain where the dragon Smaug guards the dwarfs' gold?
The film The Monuments Men is based on a true story. A group of art historians and museum people must work together. They race against time to get back some stolen artwork before Hitler can destroy it.
What was life like when dinosaurs walked on Earth? Find out in Walking with Dinosaurs. Viewers will feel like they are part of the dinosaurs' world. And some things in that world are very dangerous!
-----
Action adventure 47 Ronin is set in 18th-century Japan. A group of samurai must avenge their master's death.
Adventure finds a most unlikely person in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Walter, a timid magazine photo manager, lives a quiet life. Exciting things only happen to him in his dreams. But when a negative disappears, Walter finds himself in a real-life adventure!
Audiences loved Mary Poppins, but the film almost didn't get made! The film Saving Mr. Banks tells the story of Walt Disney and author P.L. Travers. Disney talked her into allowing him to make a movie of her story. Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson star.
Movie star Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco and became Princess Grace. Grace of Monaco tells how she helped save Monaco from a looming French invasion in the early 1960s.
These are a few of the films that offer you the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful story this winter. Don't miss them!
Grammar Gym
... elipses
acts like an em dash ("-") to show that an additional idea is coming up
- "Alien enemies, icy adventures, Middle Earth... the 2013 holiday film season offers it all!"
- I would like to take a trip... anywhere is fine.
- You can put all kinds of fruit on your shaved ice: strawberries, peaches, pineapple... anything you like.
Info Cloud
based on a true story 根據真實故事改篇/ inspired by actual event 電影改編
artistic license 藝術破格:藝術家對作品表現方式的自由 (license在這指許可, 放縱)
Language Lab
avenge v.
to do something to hurt or punish someone because they have harmed or offended you
- The boy swore to avenge his mother's murder.
avenge oneself on someone
- The policeman avenged himself on the man who killed his partner.
negative adj.
harmful, unpleasant, or not wanted
considering only the bad qualities of a situation, person etc and not the good ones
- negative thoughts
negative n.
an image on a photographic film that shows dark areas as light and light areas as dark, from which the final picture is printed
- I took the negatives to the photo shop to be developed.
- Chelsea still has the black-and-white negatives of her wedding photos.
timid adj.
/ˈtɪməd/
not having courage or confidence [= shy; ≠ confident]:
timidity n.
/təˈmɪdəti/
audience n. [audio-聽, 聽覺有關的]
a group of people who gather together to listen to something (such as a concert) or watch something (such as a movie or play) : the people who attend a performance
- The studio audience cheered when the producer gave them the signal.
- This popular band has audiences around the globe.
loom v.
if a problem or difficulty looms, it is likely to happen very soon
- With the super typhoon looming, all residents along coastal areas were evacuated.
to appear as a large unclear shape, especially in a threatening way
- Suddenly a strange guy loomed out of the fog.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
[Advanced] Dennis Quaid—Rookie No More (2)
Bahrani describes Whipple as “Willy Loman in a cornfield,” a monstrously conflicted soul with elements of playwright Arthur Miller's “Death of a Salesman” protagonist, as well as the morally compromised father in Miller's “All My Sons.”
“He's kind of broken,” Quaid says. The film, he says, courts expectations of “one of those traditional save-the-farm films, the inspiring music, the family desperately trying to hang onto things. But the story starts to turn into dark corners you don't expect.”
Quaid's agent proposed the idea of the actor putting his showboater's wiles to work on a tricky, potentially unsympathetic role. The backslapping farmer and seller of genetically modified seed is hiding an awful lot behind an all-American, can-do facade.
Bahrani: “He's played sleazy characters, but mainly we remember Dennis from ‘The Right Stuff' and ‘The Rookie.' I'd always liked him as an actor. And I thought he'd been underutilized.”
Bahrani and Quaid spent three days together at Quaid's place in Austin, Texas, “talking history, politics and cinema,” the writer-director says. Then Quaid said yes, he'd like to do the film. He joined the DeKalb, Ill., set of “At Any Price” straight from a night shoot on Quaid's “Vegas” TV series (currently awaiting word of either renewal or cancellation).
Bahrani says things got off to a wary start. “He wasn't in a good mood; he didn't really want to rehearse. I got very nervous.” The director called his pal Werner Herzog and asked him a few questions about making movies with movie stars. Herzog, according to Bahrani, told him: “Ramin, don't waste his time. He's a 30-year professional. He'll deliver when you turn the camera on.”
When he was co-star Efron's age, Quaid was signed to do a movie with Lee Majors, a father/son tale about construction workers. Then the young actor met with “Breaking Away” director Peter Yates, who persuaded him to drop that project and join Yates' cast.
“That was my first big break,” Quaid says. “That's where I went from going from job to job to getting offers.” Yates, he says, taught him how to act for the camera. Even today, Quaid acknowledges, “I need to be scaled back sometimes, to do it smaller. Sometimes when I think I'm doing nothing, that's the one, that's the take they use. It's about being still, just being in the frame.”
Quaid followed his brother, Randy, out to Hollywood in the early '70s. Randy got lucky early on with a choice role in “The Last Detail.”
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130810ada583d872acf98c69f10a759e1b055a276eb2d79cbfebdeaa0d89b7c658a4e517e.wma
“He's kind of broken,” Quaid says. The film, he says, courts expectations of “one of those traditional save-the-farm films, the inspiring music, the family desperately trying to hang onto things. But the story starts to turn into dark corners you don't expect.”
Quaid's agent proposed the idea of the actor putting his showboater's wiles to work on a tricky, potentially unsympathetic role. The backslapping farmer and seller of genetically modified seed is hiding an awful lot behind an all-American, can-do facade.
Bahrani: “He's played sleazy characters, but mainly we remember Dennis from ‘The Right Stuff' and ‘The Rookie.' I'd always liked him as an actor. And I thought he'd been underutilized.”
Bahrani and Quaid spent three days together at Quaid's place in Austin, Texas, “talking history, politics and cinema,” the writer-director says. Then Quaid said yes, he'd like to do the film. He joined the DeKalb, Ill., set of “At Any Price” straight from a night shoot on Quaid's “Vegas” TV series (currently awaiting word of either renewal or cancellation).
Bahrani says things got off to a wary start. “He wasn't in a good mood; he didn't really want to rehearse. I got very nervous.” The director called his pal Werner Herzog and asked him a few questions about making movies with movie stars. Herzog, according to Bahrani, told him: “Ramin, don't waste his time. He's a 30-year professional. He'll deliver when you turn the camera on.”
When he was co-star Efron's age, Quaid was signed to do a movie with Lee Majors, a father/son tale about construction workers. Then the young actor met with “Breaking Away” director Peter Yates, who persuaded him to drop that project and join Yates' cast.
“That was my first big break,” Quaid says. “That's where I went from going from job to job to getting offers.” Yates, he says, taught him how to act for the camera. Even today, Quaid acknowledges, “I need to be scaled back sometimes, to do it smaller. Sometimes when I think I'm doing nothing, that's the one, that's the take they use. It's about being still, just being in the frame.”
Quaid followed his brother, Randy, out to Hollywood in the early '70s. Randy got lucky early on with a choice role in “The Last Detail.”
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130810ada583d872acf98c69f10a759e1b055a276eb2d79cbfebdeaa0d89b7c658a4e517e.wma
Friday, August 9, 2013
[Advanced] Dennis Quaid—Rookie No More (1)
Dennis Quaid puts his experiences to good use in his latest film At Any Price
There was a time, in the late 1980s, when each new film starring Dennis Quaid was The One. The one destined to make him not just an actor, not just an actor with guts and a wily, toothy joker's grin, but a huge box-office-reliable star. In the summer of 1987, The One was the adventure fantasy “Innerspace,” which turned out to be a medium hit. Two summers later it was the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic “Great Balls of Fire!” Again, not a disaster. But not The One.
Now 59, Quaid has grown into a different sort of star, tempered by ups and downs and in-betweens. Lately, the Quaid audiences first came to know in the lovely “Breaking Away” (1979), and later as astronaut Gordon Cooper in the grandly eccentric film version of “The Right Stuff” (1983), has pushed himself into challenging territory.
In the new independent drama “At Any Price,” written and directed by Ramin Bahrani of “Man Push Cart,” “Chop Shop” and “Goodbye Solo,” Quaid plays a third-generation Iowa farmer buckling under the pressures of expansion, competition, infidelity and a plot turn, involving the son played by Zac Efron, that leaves Quaid's character, Henry Whipple, with metaphorical and literal blood on his hands.
“At Any Price,” filmed in DeKalb County and made for an exceedingly thrifty $4 million, is no one's idea of a big summer movie. “I basically did it for free,” Quaid says, laughing. It's a film an actor chooses to make for reasons other than compensation or a percentage of the gross. Recently, Quaid spent a half-hour of his birthday talking about fame, success, acting and learning to act less.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130809ada992d66841833286fe5896cc626da7a6a8d79e30a53a01efc727917f0924c2cdc.wma
There was a time, in the late 1980s, when each new film starring Dennis Quaid was The One. The one destined to make him not just an actor, not just an actor with guts and a wily, toothy joker's grin, but a huge box-office-reliable star. In the summer of 1987, The One was the adventure fantasy “Innerspace,” which turned out to be a medium hit. Two summers later it was the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic “Great Balls of Fire!” Again, not a disaster. But not The One.
Now 59, Quaid has grown into a different sort of star, tempered by ups and downs and in-betweens. Lately, the Quaid audiences first came to know in the lovely “Breaking Away” (1979), and later as astronaut Gordon Cooper in the grandly eccentric film version of “The Right Stuff” (1983), has pushed himself into challenging territory.
In the new independent drama “At Any Price,” written and directed by Ramin Bahrani of “Man Push Cart,” “Chop Shop” and “Goodbye Solo,” Quaid plays a third-generation Iowa farmer buckling under the pressures of expansion, competition, infidelity and a plot turn, involving the son played by Zac Efron, that leaves Quaid's character, Henry Whipple, with metaphorical and literal blood on his hands.
“At Any Price,” filmed in DeKalb County and made for an exceedingly thrifty $4 million, is no one's idea of a big summer movie. “I basically did it for free,” Quaid says, laughing. It's a film an actor chooses to make for reasons other than compensation or a percentage of the gross. Recently, Quaid spent a half-hour of his birthday talking about fame, success, acting and learning to act less.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130809ada992d66841833286fe5896cc626da7a6a8d79e30a53a01efc727917f0924c2cdc.wma
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
[Advanced] Movies Taking Their Sweet Time (2)
6:45
Ted Mundorff, chief executive of the 229-screen Landmark Theatres, said that when movies exceed a little more than two hours, exhibitors lose a showtime a day — at a cost of about $3,600 per theater per night. With an average-length movie, Mundorff can book about five showings a day, with two in the sweet spot between 7 and 9:30 p.m., when theaters generate about 80% of their business. But movies like "The Hobbit" can be shown only four times a day, with one prime-time screening.
14:00 Going digital
Traditionally Hollywood's longest movies were historical epics such as "Gone With the Wind" and "Lawrence of Arabia," and running time was synonymous with prestige. But now even genre films have grown longer, according to Jan-Christopher Horak, director of UCLA's Film & Television Archive.
When filmmakers used real film, directors shot roughly 40 minutes of footage for one minute of screen time, Horak said. Now shooting ratios are closer to 200 to 400 minutes shot for every one minute on screen, because crews are no longer concerned about wasting costly film stock.
"There's a kind of overkill at work here," Horak said. "Film directors have this mistaken notion that digital is free, so they shoot a lot more footage. And they're in love with what they shoot."
Many of this year's longer movies come from filmmakers who have racked up enough clout with their studios to win the running-time fight, like "This Is 40" director-producer Judd Apatow, whose comedies "Bridesmaids," "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" were box-office hits for Universal Pictures.But, at almost an hour longer than most comedies, "This Is 40" has inspired some in Hollywood to refer to the movie as "This Is 40 Minutes Too Long."
"It's hard to get out of the house to go the movies," Apatow said of his movie's long running time. "Movies are expensive, parking is expensive — why is everyone in a rush to go home? An extra 15 minutes won't kill you. Everyone thinks everything is like a two-minute YouTube video. And I refuse to adjust for them."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130718ada0ac6283c7c4f63b7ed54ffc4cb38131fa34b6fcc16ac3363ecf40a915ae7d37b.wma
Ted Mundorff, chief executive of the 229-screen Landmark Theatres, said that when movies exceed a little more than two hours, exhibitors lose a showtime a day — at a cost of about $3,600 per theater per night. With an average-length movie, Mundorff can book about five showings a day, with two in the sweet spot between 7 and 9:30 p.m., when theaters generate about 80% of their business. But movies like "The Hobbit" can be shown only four times a day, with one prime-time screening.
14:00 Going digital
Traditionally Hollywood's longest movies were historical epics such as "Gone With the Wind" and "Lawrence of Arabia," and running time was synonymous with prestige. But now even genre films have grown longer, according to Jan-Christopher Horak, director of UCLA's Film & Television Archive.
When filmmakers used real film, directors shot roughly 40 minutes of footage for one minute of screen time, Horak said. Now shooting ratios are closer to 200 to 400 minutes shot for every one minute on screen, because crews are no longer concerned about wasting costly film stock.
"There's a kind of overkill at work here," Horak said. "Film directors have this mistaken notion that digital is free, so they shoot a lot more footage. And they're in love with what they shoot."
Many of this year's longer movies come from filmmakers who have racked up enough clout with their studios to win the running-time fight, like "This Is 40" director-producer Judd Apatow, whose comedies "Bridesmaids," "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" were box-office hits for Universal Pictures.But, at almost an hour longer than most comedies, "This Is 40" has inspired some in Hollywood to refer to the movie as "This Is 40 Minutes Too Long."
"It's hard to get out of the house to go the movies," Apatow said of his movie's long running time. "Movies are expensive, parking is expensive — why is everyone in a rush to go home? An extra 15 minutes won't kill you. Everyone thinks everything is like a two-minute YouTube video. And I refuse to adjust for them."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130718ada0ac6283c7c4f63b7ed54ffc4cb38131fa34b6fcc16ac3363ecf40a915ae7d37b.wma
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
[Advanced] Movies Taking Their Sweet Time (1)
In today’s fast-paced world, more major films are running longer
By Rebecca Keegan and John Horn, Los Angeles Times
You can fly from Los Angeles to Seattle in less time than it takes to watch "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Elite runners can finish a marathon faster than the total time of "Django Unchained."
Daily life may be swinging toward two-minute YouTube videos and brutally succinct tweets, but there's still one place where time practically stands still: the multiplex. Extra-long films have proliferated this season, a consequence of directors who wield near unilateral control over their films' running times and digital filmmaking tools that allow for longer and repeated takes.
15:25
Some movie theater owners say the current crop of long-winded movies are costing them at the box office, as films approaching three hours in length can be shown only once an evening.
Exhibitors and more than a few movie critics have bemoaned this spate of prolonged productions. Yet some members of the most important constituency in the film business say the long films don't really feel that time-consuming.
"It never lagged," said 12-year-old Jesse Serrato, who joined his family for the 169-minute "Hobbit" movie this week in downtown Los Angeles and clearly has more fortitude than many adults.
22:00
The year's maximalist movies include not only typically longer prestige titles such as "Lincoln" (149 minutes), "Les Miserables" (158) and "Zero Dark Thirty" (157) but also a comic-book movie ("The Dark Knight Rises," 164), a James Bond sequel ("Skyfall," 143) and a comedy ("This Is 40," 134).
The running times haven't hurt some of these long movies at the box office. "Skyfall" has garnered domestic ticket sales of $272.6 million, "Dark Knight Rises" took in $448.1 million and "Lincoln" has grossed $108.5 million.
But those outsized revenues have largely come from megaplexes, where theater owners can utilize more screens for a hit film. The operators of smaller complexes say they don't have that latitude, and are consequently suffering.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130717ada0f6608ba065c7beab7218eaccd0e219d0ac2d04f5aa24e651b6d02ae925f4855.wma
By Rebecca Keegan and John Horn, Los Angeles Times
You can fly from Los Angeles to Seattle in less time than it takes to watch "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Elite runners can finish a marathon faster than the total time of "Django Unchained."
Daily life may be swinging toward two-minute YouTube videos and brutally succinct tweets, but there's still one place where time practically stands still: the multiplex. Extra-long films have proliferated this season, a consequence of directors who wield near unilateral control over their films' running times and digital filmmaking tools that allow for longer and repeated takes.
15:25
Some movie theater owners say the current crop of long-winded movies are costing them at the box office, as films approaching three hours in length can be shown only once an evening.
Exhibitors and more than a few movie critics have bemoaned this spate of prolonged productions. Yet some members of the most important constituency in the film business say the long films don't really feel that time-consuming.
"It never lagged," said 12-year-old Jesse Serrato, who joined his family for the 169-minute "Hobbit" movie this week in downtown Los Angeles and clearly has more fortitude than many adults.
22:00
The year's maximalist movies include not only typically longer prestige titles such as "Lincoln" (149 minutes), "Les Miserables" (158) and "Zero Dark Thirty" (157) but also a comic-book movie ("The Dark Knight Rises," 164), a James Bond sequel ("Skyfall," 143) and a comedy ("This Is 40," 134).
The running times haven't hurt some of these long movies at the box office. "Skyfall" has garnered domestic ticket sales of $272.6 million, "Dark Knight Rises" took in $448.1 million and "Lincoln" has grossed $108.5 million.
But those outsized revenues have largely come from megaplexes, where theater owners can utilize more screens for a hit film. The operators of smaller complexes say they don't have that latitude, and are consequently suffering.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130717ada0f6608ba065c7beab7218eaccd0e219d0ac2d04f5aa24e651b6d02ae925f4855.wma
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