Posts Tagged ‘Jurassic Park’

Metro In Focus: Spielberg’s skill in listening is what sets him apart.

By Richard Crouse – Metro In Focus

You don’t have to overtax the Google machine to find negative comments about being on set with Steven Spielberg. Type in “working with Steven Spielberg” and in 0.57 seconds 20,900,000 results appear, including an article where Shia LaBeouf rants, “He’s less a director than he is a f—ing company.”

LaBeouf’s resume is dotted with Spielberg-produced or -directed films like Disturbia, Transformers, Eagle Eye and, most famously, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but if Spielberg ever does the same search it’s unlikely they’ll ever pair up again. “You get there, and you realize you’re not meeting the Spielberg you dream of,” LaBeouf told Variety. “You’re meeting a different Spielberg, who is in a different stage in his career.”

But that’s pretty much it for the negativity. There’s a story about Crispin Glover suing Spielberg for using his likeness in Back to the Future Part II and the critical drone that his films are overly sentimental, but primarily it’s LaBeouf against Spielberg and the world. Most of his other co-workers have nothing but praise for the filmmaker Empire magazine ranked as the greatest film director of all time.

This weekend he returns to theatres with Ready Player One, a sci-fi film that brings a virtual reality world called the OASIS to vivid life. Star Tye Sheridan calls the director a great and passionate collaborator who makes everyone feel equal on set. Co-star Ralph Ineson calls Spielberg “one of the most iconic figures of the last 100 years,” adding that it was difficult to takes notes from him on set. “When he is speaking to you your mind vaguely goes blank the first few times because your internal monologue just goes, ‘My god, Steven Spielberg is giving me a note.’ And then you realize you haven’t actually heard the note.”

All directors give suggestions on set, but it seems it’s the way Spielberg speaks to his actors that sets him apart.

Ed Burns remembers making a mess of several takes on the set of Saving Private Ryan to the point where Tom Hanks said to him, “I’ve seen you act before, and this isn’t acting.” Afraid he would be replaced, he got nervous and continued to blow take after take but Spielberg didn’t offer guidance. Two weeks passed. The cast started laying bets on who would be fired first.

Turns out, no one was fired and Burns learned a lesson he would later take into his own directorial efforts like Sidewalks of New York. The actor reports that Spielberg said, “I like to give my actors three takes to figure it out. If I step in after the first take and give you a note, especially with young actors, you’ll hear me rather than your own voice.”

Burns calls the experience “a life changer” adding it taught him that being a director is “about knowing when to give direction.”

The superstar director says the listening lesson was learned early in life.  “From a very young age my parents taught me probably the most valuable lesson of my life: Sometimes it’s better not to talk, but to listen.”

There’s someone else Spielberg keeps in mind when making a film. “I always like to think of the audience when I am directing. Because I am the audience.”

Toronto Star: The score for the dinosaurs comes to life in Jurassic Park in Concert

Jurassic Park transformed the movie-going experience for an entire generation and became the highest-grossing film of all time in 1993, winning three Academy Awards®. Now audiences can experience this ground-breaking film as never before as it is projected in HD with a full symphony orchestra performing Williams’ magnificent score live!

Join us before the show on Thursday, December 28, for a conversation with Toronto Film Critic and TV Host Richard Crouse and Conductor Evan Mitchell. Together, they will share a closer look at the impact that Jurassic Park had and continues to have on pop culture. They will also explore John Williams’ memorable score and share a behind-the-scenes look of how the orchestra performs live and in sync with the film. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Behind The Curtain pre-show talk is open to all ticket-holders attending the Thursday performance.

Read all about it in today’s Toronto Star.
More info HERE!

 

 

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COMING SOON: JURASSIC PARK TAKES A BITE OUT OF THE SONY CENTRE!

Welcome… to Jurassic Park! One of the most thrilling science fiction adventures ever made will be presented at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on December 28 and 29, 2017. A full symphony orchestra will perform one of composer John Williams’ most iconic and beloved musical scores LIVE in sync with the picture! Jurassic Park is the third of Steven Spielberg’s films to be developed for presentation with live orchestra.

Jurassic Park transformed the movie-going experience for an entire generation and became the highest-grossing film of all time in 1993, winning three Academy Awards®. Now audiences can experience this ground-breaking film as never before as it is projected in HD with a full symphony orchestra performing Williams’ magnificent score live!

Join us before the show on Thursday, December 28, for a conversation with Toronto Film Critic and TV Host Richard Crouse and Conductor Evan Mitchell. Together, they will share a closer look at the impact that Jurassic Park had and continues to have on pop culture. They will also explore John Williams’ memorable score and share a behind-the-scenes look of how the orchestra performs live and in sync with the film. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Behind The Curtain pre-show talk is open to all ticket-holders attending the Thursday performance.

More info HERE!

Richard Crouse is the film critic for CTV’s News Channel and CP24. His syndicated radio show, The Richard Crouse Show, originates on News Talk 1010 in Toronto. He is the author of nine books including the bestselling Raising Hell: Ken Russell and the Unmaking of The Devils and Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True. His weekly Metro column appears on Fridays and Pop Life, his new television show airs across the Bell Media network.

Evan Mitchell is proving to be one of the most able and imaginative young conductors in Canada. Having recently finished successful residencies as Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver and Kitchener-Waterloo symphony orchestras, Mr. Mitchell has enjoyed three triumphant seasons as Music Director of the Kingston Symphony Association. During his various residencies, Mr. Mitchell conducted over 200 concerts, acted as a Canadian ambassador during a historic two-week tour of China, Korea, and Macau, and served as an official consultant to the Vancouver Olympic Committee and Assistant Producer for the recording of the medal ceremony national anthems. Mr. Mitchell is a champion of initiatives designed to enhance the live concert experience, such as insider videos, informational podcasts, pre-concert talks, and special concerts devoted to live, onstage insights into major orchestral works. He is a regular guest conductor with the Toronto Symphony and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. He has also led orchestral collaborations with the Barenaked Ladies, Judy Collins, and Pink Martini.

GEEK CHIC ELITE: RICHARD ON THE 2017 Flashback Film Fest, FEBRUARY 3 – 9.

Richard chats with Geek Chic Elite writer Jeff Fountain to talk about the Cineplex Flashback Film Fest.

From GeekChicElite.com: “The Flashback Film Festival (formerly The Great Digital Film Fest) runs from Feb 3rd to 9th and is Canada’s only coast-to-coast film festival. Cineplex Events had put together a lineup of 17 memorable films that have a little something for everyone. Recently, we had a chance to talk to Richard Crouse, film critic and curator of the Flashback Film Festival about the movies selected for this year’s festival and why it is such a popular event for movie fans of all ages…” Read the whole interview HERE!

GEEK HARD: RICHARD ON THE 2017 Flashback Film Fest, FEBRUARY 3 – 9.

Richard joins the Geek Hard podcast to talk about the Cineplex Flashback Film Fest.

From GeekHardShow.com: This week, we’re flashing back to films from last week and long past. Don’t miss this Friday’s show as Andrew and Mr. Green gear up for the Flashback Film Festival (brought to you by Cineplex). Coming to 24 cities across Canada this February, the festival celebrates some fan favourite films from the past by giving you a chance to see them up on the big screen once again. To help you get ready, the guys will be chatting with Richard Crouse, who curated this year’s lineup. Richard is a well known film critic and author who’s put together a mix of big action, smart drama and heartwarming films from the 80s and 90s for fans to enjoy, including the likes of Bladerunner (The Final Cut), Fight Club, Jurassic Park, The Princess Bride and more!

Read more HERE! Listen to the whole thing HERE!

 

CINEPLEX: RICHARD ON THE 2017 Flashback Film Fest, FEBRUARY 3 – 9.

Cineplex Events has today announced that the widely popular Great Digital Film Festival will now be known as Flashback Film Fest.  The event is Canada’s only coast-to-coast festival, bringing a line-up of sci-fi, fantasy and fan favourites back to the big screen.  This year, Cineplex Events and renowned film critic, Richard Crouse, curated a line-up of 17 of the most blood-pumping, thrill-inducing and heart-warming films in cinema that will screen in over 24 cities across the country from February 3-9, 2017.  

Please click here for a message from Richard Crouse and Cineplex Pre-Show Host Tanner Zipchen. 

“We wanted to give the festival a new name that better reflects how it has evolved and why it has been so popular over the years,” said Brad LaDouceur, Vice President, Event Cinema. “Flashback Film Fest fits perfectly with our Event Cinema business which offers guests exciting, unique content that ranges from classic films to renowned stage productions.  We take them on tours of famous galleries and put them courtside at sporting events without them ever having to set foot on a plane, or in this case, a time machine.”  

“The great thing about this festival is that audiences will have a chance to relive these movies in the way they were meant to be seen; on a big screen, with an audience,” said author and film critic, Richard Crouse.  “The best and most powerful way to see a movie is to fully immerse yourself in the theatre experience, surrounded by people who are enjoying it just as much as you are.  I’m personally looking forward to seeing films like Fight Club, Blade RunnerThe Final Cut, Pulp Fiction and Shallow Grave in all their glory.”

The 2017 Flashback Film Fest Line-up includes:

  • Air Force One (1997) *20 year anniversary
  • Blade Runner – The Final Cut (2007) *10 year anniversary/35 year anniversary of original
  • Blood Simple (1984)
  • Fargo (1996)
  • The Fifth Element (1997) *20 year anniversary
  • Fight Club (1999)
  • The Fugitive (1993)
  • Groundhog Day (1993)
  • Heat (1995)
  • Jurassic Park (1993)
  • Legend (1985)
  • The Princess Bride (1987) *30 year anniversary
  • Pulp Fiction (1994)
  • The Running Man (1987) *30 year anniversary
  • Shallow Grave (1994)
  • Starship Troopers (1997) *20 year anniversary
  • Trainspotting (1996)

Tickets for festival films cost $7.99, $6.99 for 5 or more films and new this year film fanatics can buy the “I Want It All” pass for $69.99 allowing them access to all 17 films for a price of $4.11 per admission. For a complete list of show times, or to purchase tickets, visit Cineplex.com/FBFF .

Participating theatres include:

British Columbia

  • Cineplex Cinemas Langley
  • SilverCity Victoria Cinemas
  • The Park Theatre
  •  

Alberta

  • Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market Cinemas
  • Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton

 

Manitoba

  • Scotiabank Theatre Winnipeg

 

Saskatchewan

  • Cineplex Cinemas Regina
  • Scotiabank Theatre Saskatoon and VIP

 

Ontario

  • Cineplex Cinemas Courtney Park
  • Cineplex Odeon Devonshire Mall Cinemas
  • Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo
  • Galaxy Cinemas Guelph
  • Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
  • Cineplex Cinemas Scarborough
  • SilverCity Newmarket Cinemas
  • Cineplex Cinemas Ancaster
  • SilverCity London Cinemas
  • Cineplex Odeon South Keys Cinema
  • SilverCity Sudbury Cinemas
  • SilverCity Thunder Bay Cinemas

 

Quebec

  • Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal

 

Atlantic

  • Cineplex Cinemas Trinity Drive
  • Scotiabank Theatre St. John’s
  • Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane

Cineplex: Richard and Tanner Zipchen announce the Flashback Film Festival!

Richard and Cineplex pre-show host Tanner Zipchen announce this year’s Flashback Film Festival! More details to come… in the meantime watch Tanner and Richard HERE!

RICHARD’S WEEKEND MOVIE REVIEWS FROM CP24! FRIDAY JUNE 12, 2015.

Screen Shot 2015-06-12 at 2.43.38 PMRichard’s CP24 reviews for “Jurassic World,” “Slow West” and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!

RICHARD’S “CANADA AM” REVIEWS FOR JUNE 12 WITH BEVERLY THOMSON.

Screen Shot 2015-06-12 at 10.22.44 AMRichard’s “Canada AM” reviews for “Jurassic World,” “Slow West” and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!