Mockumentaries: Comedy for the Not-So-Serious Thinker

In the late 1990s the documentary hit it big with the huge successes of A&E's Biography, and the History Channel. Now the not-so-serious offspring of the documentary is all the rage as mockumentary rules the comedy scene.

Mockumentary is a film genre of fiction calculated to parody the non-fiction documentary. The crux of mockumentary humor is usually centered in taking trivial matters very seriously, and mocking those who feel strongly about inconsequential issues.

Mockumentaries are presented as if they were documentaries recording real life using stereotypical documentary techniques such as narrated footage, interviews, talking heads, etc.

The roots of mockumentary go back to the 1950s when radio programs would stage fictitious explorations of foreign planets, but the term mockumentary was not widely used until coined by Rob Reiner, who used it in interviews to describe his 1980s film This Is Spinal Tap.

To give a mockumentary the authentic, true to life feel like that of the documentary, mockumentaries are often unscripted and improvised. The organic structure of the film production is unpredictable, but is part of what gives it charm. Usually there is no laugh tract in a mockumentary, as they tend to lend a canned, prepackaged feel that mockumentaries, like documentaries, avoid.

The new mockumentary genre has become so popular in recent years it has spawned its own film festivals, like it's proud but serious parent the documentary. Three day long festivals are held throughout North America and the UK showcasing the latest indie mockumentaries attracting cult followings.

Some of the most famous and ground breaking early mockumentaries to come out are "The Blair Witch Project" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous," one being humorous and the other scary.

Drop Dead Gorgeous is an irreverent parody of a Minnesota beauty pageant and follows the traditional over the top people-are-stupid mockumentary line.

The Blair Witch Project capitalizes on the current obsession with reality TV. It combines elements of show everything documentary with the urban legend horror stories traditionally told around the campfire to produce a truly frightening effect. These movies helped to define the mockumentary genre as it is today.

Some other notable mockumentaries include All You Need Is Cash (aka The Rutles), parody telling of the Beatles' story, while also parodying documentary makers themselves, 1979. Believe, story of multi-level marketing and a failed pyramid scheme US, 2007. The Big Tease, a Scottish hairdresser's journey to the US for a hairdressing competition. And God Spoke, about a director-producer partnership trying to create the definite cinematic version of The Bible on a shoestring budget US, 1999.

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George Romero - Zombie Master

George Romero has a talent for tapping moviegoers' shoulders with an icy touch of horror. Best known for the most celebrated horror film of all time, Night of the Living Dead, Romero created a cult classic with a low budget and a high aim to achieve.

Born February 4, 1940, George Romero started his filmmaking career by shooting movies in 8 mm when he was still a teenager. He later attended the Carnegie-Mellon Institute of Art in Pennsylvania where he received a Bachelor's degree. After having mastered the fundamentals of filmmaking, he added his unique touches that led to the groundbreaking "Dead" series. These five horror movies had a zombie apocalypse theme that made them true thrillers, but more importantly, Romero included his insightful commentaries on modern society.

The first movie in the series was made with a ridiculously low budget of just over $100,000 but that was enough to literally propel Romero to the highest level in the industry. The entertainment arena is often best entered with a horror film because traditionally, it's easier to find a distributor for this type of movie. While Romero merely sought to get a start in the business, the phenomenal success of this film showcased his talent for combining suspense, horror, dark humor and romance. This versatility became his trademark and also allowed him to comment on social issues, thereby giving his movies depth.

Romero distinguished himself in the horror genre through the subtle, yet powerful messages contained in his work. Often the overall point was a stab at some aspect of society and therefore contained a cynical and bitter tone. After Night of the Living Dead, his next films didn't achieve the same acclaim, and in 1978, he returned to the zombie genre with a movie that gave him the success he deserved. Dawn of the Dead featured a story about four people who fled from a zombie outbreak, only to become victims of a different kind. With a budget of $1.5 million, the movie grossed over $40 million and Entertainment Weekly declared it one of the top cult films.

George Romero is impressive as a writer and director. His talents were seen in a variety of venues including a live action commercial to promote Resident Evil 2, a video game. He also put together a series of short films detailing the work involved in the Diary of the Dead.

Although his work received both exceptional reviews as well as mediocre ones, George Romero added something special to his zombie tales - specifically, a combination of gore and the guts to comment on society's flaws. His horror movies connected with audiences because he had the ability to transfer ideas to the screen with stop-your-heart action. Romero is a legend that will live forever in these zombie movies.

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The Convenience Of Online DVD Rentals

Online DVD rental business started in the last part of the twentieth century. It has not looked back ever since. The online disk rental trade became a huge success and attained great popularity among the viewers. The popularity was first attained in the USA and UK where the viewers were overwhelmed by the exclusive and convenient way of watching a movie. The Internet DVD rental trade did not restrict itself in these countries but spread to all other major countries of Europe and Asia.

The online DVD rentals offer an easy and convenient way of ordering for a movie. The viewer needs to go to the website of the rental company. He will need to register himself at the site. Then he can choose DVDs from the list provided in the website. After choosing the desired DVD he can sit back and relax. The ordered DVDs will be sent through post practically in no time at all.

There are no hidden charges or any kind of late fees applicable on these orders. There is no due date and so the customer does not need to worry about sending the DVDs back. Sending it back is also free of charge. The customers can return the DVDs at their own will. But he will get another DVD only when he returns the first one.

The membership fee is quite nominal in the online rental service. Both ways postal charges are included in the membership fees. So, after paying the membership fees the customer can stop worrying about the extra charges.

Before the online rental trade started, viewers had to go to a shop to get a DVD and had to keep the due date of returning the DVD. Extra fees will be charged for late return. But with the advent of Internet DVD rental trade things have changed dramatically. People soon saw the benefits of ordering online for a DVD.

The major names in the field of web DVD rental trade happen to be Netflix that introduced the trade. Another big name is Blockbuster. Blockbuster had already created a name for itself for having a largely popular DVD rental shop. Blockbuster went online and took a very large portion of the share in the market. Blockbuster controls over a quarter of the market and has increased emphasis on its online division. Another giant named Lovefilm has a prominent presence in the onlin business. Lovefilm mails out over two million DVDs per month.

Conclusion

The DVD rental market will probably continue its explosive growth for at least several more years as it becomes more powerful, driving many street video shops out of business in the process. Screen Digest research indicates that by 2009, rental-by-post will account for nearly two-thirds of all British DVD rental transactions and one-third of online DVD rental business in Europe. It is a huge market and the fabulous consumer friendly offers of this business will make the online DVD rental business a complete success story.

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The History Of Horror Films

Horror movies are often diverse in plots and characterizations, but they are all able to evoke spine-tingling thrills in moviegoers. The history of this genre can be traced back to the late 1890s, and the influence of these early films is still felt in the entertainment industry today.

The father of horror movies may be Georges Melies. In 1896, he depicted otherworldly events in his movie, "The House of the Devil". Two years later, Japanese producers entered the horror arena with two movies. And in 1910, Edison Studios in the United States created "Frankenstein". These early offerings into this genre showed creativity and the ability to evoke genuine emotions from the audience.

Writers, directors and actors in horror films have historically sought to create a level of fear that rivets moviegoers to their seats through adrenaline rushes. This has been accomplished in a variety of ways, from demonic activity, monsters on the loose or extraterrestrial beings. Although the premise of these films may differ in certain ways, the basic idea is to capitalize on everyday fears by making them larger than life. Viewers connect with this film fare because there is a disturbingly real sense that these events could actually happen in some way.

Most horror films have a single villain, and early movies took ideas for this character from literature. Dracula, Phantom of the Opera and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde easily made the transition from print to the big screen. Another interesting depiction of fear was created when movies explored societal insecurities or aberrations. The plots of these films included characters with bizarre personality traits, an apocalypse type situation or the presence of demonic activity. In the 1950s, science fiction began to influence the horror genre and gave it a modern, yet equally maniacal feel. In these movies, there was a sense of overcoming alien invasions to ensure the future of the world.

While horror films seem designed to "entertain" audiences, many directors and producers used them as vehicles to express commentaries on society. For instance, George Romero's classic cult film "Night of the Living Dead" expressed insightful views on human nature during the turbulent Vietnam War era.

Alfred Hitchcock took horror home. He didn't use extraordinary monsters, but injected a dose of terror in everyday people. In "Psycho" Freudian logic explained the action, and also gave his audience an open-ended fear to take with them.

Historically, the films in the horror genre have evolved and experimented with different types of themes. From aliens to zombies, characters have taken many faces and personality traits. Settings have featured private homes or entire countries. Additionally, the level of intensity is also a variable, either quietly turning up the tension with a psychological aspect or opening the floodgates of fear with explicit elements. Whatever the mode, horror films definitely fit the bill for many moviegoers.

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Full Movie Download It's Possible With Movie Download Websites

A full movie download directly into your own computer is possible today with movie download websites. These websites make it easy for you to buy and watch your favorite movies whenever and wherever you want. More and more people are opting to view movies at home instead of at movie theaters. This is especially convenient for people who just don't have the time to make it to a movie theater at the correct show time. This makes movie download websites that offer a full movie download straight into your computer incredibly desirable.

If you are thinking about signing up for a movie download website that offers a full movie download into your computer, consider the following tips so that you choose the best website for you.

One-Time Membership Fees are Better Than Monthly Fees

Don't sign up for a movie download website for a full movie download that requires a monthly fee. In the end, monthly fee websites are more expensive. There are plenty of websites that offer a full movie download for a one-time membership fee. This one-time membership fee will gain you lifetime access to unlimited opportunities for a full movie download.

Look for a Large Catalog of Movies Available

Before signing up, check out the catalog of titles available for full movie download on your prospective movie download website. Make sure you find the website that offers a vast range of titles from a variety of genres, including the typical Hollywood categories like comedy and action-adventure, along with obscure ones like documentaries, independent films, and even amateur videos. In addition, check the release dates of the movies available. If you're looking for current movies, a website that only offers titles over twenty years old may not work for you.

Download Speed is Important

Movies are usually huge files that can take a long time when doing a full movie download. Check the download speed of your prospective movie download website and the compatibility with your computer. Some movie download websites offer free full movie download software that allows for a fast download.

Simple and Easy to Understand

Do you love to read pages and pages of complicated instructions in a tiny typeface written by someone who obviously didn't care if the reader understood? You're not alone - nobody does. The best movie download websites offer easy to understand instructions on how to do a full movie download even before you sign up. This way you know if the website is simple to use and what to expect when you do sign up.

Customer Reviews are Crucial

Before signing up for a movie download website or doing a full movie download, take the time to search the Internet for opinions of your prospective website's customers. Happy customers don't always post a positive review, but unhappy customers are usually hopping mad and will not hesitate to make negative comments. A simple Internet search will help you look for angry customers so that you can take advantage of their experience and move on to another movie download website for a full movie download.

Around the Clock Customer Service

Make sure your prospective movie download website has complimentary around the clock customer service. Avoid websites that don't because nobody will be there to help you if you do encounter a problem.

If you keep these tips in mind, you will enjoy your full movie download. By using this information and doing a little homework, you will be able to choose the perfect movie download website that will provide you with full movie downloads for a long time to come.

Cory Blanchette and his associates have specialized in the download movies and download music for the past 5 years and has produced a site that exposes the techniques how to get your own movies and music. www.downloadonlinemovies.net

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"Night of the Living Dead" - The Making of a Classic

It's not often that a nightmare turns into a 'dream', but in the case of the movie "Night of the Living Dead", that's exactly what happened. Made in 1968, this black-and-white horror film impacted the genre and fulfilled director George Romero's dream of successfully entering the entertainment industry.

In many ways, this film broke new ground. With a relatively low budget of just over $100,000, and with a gross revenue of $30 million dollars, Romero proved that money doesn't make a movie. Creativity and talent does. The story centered on the cryptic and creepy reappearance of the dead, who reanimated with a taste for human flesh. A small group of people who escaped the initial attacks found each other and were forced to struggle to survive the night in a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse. Although the gore was graphic, moviegoers saw something else in this film that made it a classic.

Romero didn't just make a film that had visual appeal; he impacted the culture of the 60s. In this Vietnam War era, Romero included his comments and critiques of American society in the script. Social analysts and historians saw this movie as both subversive and persuasive. His thoughts were brought to the big screen with drama, and his ideas gave people something to think about. Because of this added level of depth and development, in 1999, the Library of Congress deemed "Night of the Living Dead" as a film with historical and cultural significance.

While not the first "zombie apocalypse" type movie, Romero did become the leader in the horror genre. His influence in the industry is evident and his success is envied. His understanding of the public's thirst for the bizarre charted the course for this film, and his insightful commentary on human nature provided the perfect connection to modern audiences.

Ironically, the fact that his film company couldn't raise a large amount of money to shoot this classic film became an asset. With limited funds, each moment and scene became important. They shot the movie in a remote location and basically brought the horror home to that spot. Special effects were put together simply, but made a sensation on the screen. The blood on the bodies was nothing more than Bosco chocolate syrup. The cast wore second-hand clothes, and mortician's wax created the zombie look. The black-and-white film lent a startling realistic effect to the entire production and was even likened to a newsreel.

The gruesome scenes made it difficult to find a distributor for the movie. Although Columbia and American International Pictures showed interest, they also wanted the gore to be cleaned up before release. This was unacceptable to Romero and his crew, because a happily-ever-after ending was not part of their original script. Finally, the Walter Reade Organization agreed to show the uncensored version of the film, and as the saying goes: the rest is history.

"Night of the Living Dead" splashed across movie screens in the United States and internationally, splattering both blood and a disturbingly indisputable commentary on society. This classic resurrects reality with a chilling sense of horror.

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French Film Soars at Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival is over for another year. The votes have been tallied, the red carpet was rolled up, and the world's beautiful people have gone back to looking like the rest of us, or so we can dream. The 61st annual festival drew the eyes of the film industry and movie buffs alike across the pond to France, if only for 10 short days.

At the top of this year's festival was the French film entitled "The Class," a real-life depiction of life at a junior high school. It took home the Palme D'or, the festival's biggest award.

It was the first French film to win the big prize since "Under Satan's Sun" won the prize in 1987. All of the festival's winners were selected by jury president Sean Penn and a nine-member jury including such Hollywood power players as Natalie Portman, all of whom voted for "The Class" to take home the Palme. The film was touted for its relevant social commentary and unconventional style.

Some other highlights of the prizes awarded include:

* Italian films by Matteo Garrone ("Gomorra") and Paolo Sorrentino ("Il Divo") took home the second- and third-place prizes.

* Benicio Del Toro took home best-actor honors for his role in "Che," Steven Soderbergh's epic about Che Guevara.

* Best actress accolades went to Sandra Corveloni for her role in "Linha de Passe," a film in which she plays a mother of four struggling to make ends meet in a Brazilian slum.

* Best director went to Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylon for the film "Three Monkeys," which is the story of a father who takes the fall for his employer's crime in order for financial security for his wife and son.

* Former two-time Palme D'or winners Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne received the screenplay prize for their film "Lorna's Silence," about an immigrant woman who gets married only to gain Belgian citizenship.

* British filmmaker Steve McQueen won the first-time director prize for his film "Hunger," a piece set in a prison in Northern Ireland where an IRA volunteer leads a hunger strike.

Another jury, the International Federation of Film Critics, awarded a special prize to film legend Clint Eastwood, who directed the competition film "The Exchange," starring Angelina Jolie. Eastwood has never taken home top honors at the festival despite having made five appearances since 1985.

A film from Kazakhstan entitled "Tulpan" won a lesser competition called "Un Certain Regard." "Tulpan" is a film about a shepherd who must wed before he can enter his trade, but his only prospect for marriage refuses him because of his large ears!

Other runner-up jury awards went to Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Tokyo Sonata," James Toback's documentary "Tyson," German director Andreas Dresen's "Cloud 9" and Jean-Stephane Sauvaire's "Johnny Mad Dog," about child soldiers in Africa.

In general, the festival judges found this year's films to be somewhat lacking, especially in comparison to last year's blockbuster hits like Joe and Ethan Coen's "No Country for Old Men," which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, proving that it attracted fans of both mainstream and unconventional films.

The festival closed out with the premiere of Barry Levinson's "What Just Happened?" starring Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis and Sean Penn in a story about a has-been Hollywood producer who tries to revitalize his career while dealing with issues in his personal and professional lives.

With the Cannes Film Festival now wrapped up, Hollywood's eyes are now turning toward Venice, where many U.S. films are expected to elbow out the competition on the Lido.

Hollywood heavyweights like Brad Pitt, George Clooney and John Malkovich will likely be there in support of the Coen brothers' film "Burn After Reading," and the stars of the film "Body of Lies," Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe will also likely make an appearance. Kiera Knightly and Ralph Fiennes, stars of "The Duchess," are also expected to make an appearance.

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Lights, Camera - It's Film Malta!

Previously, Malta has been the shooting site for great, award-winning movies. Most movies are filmed in Hollywood with extensive props to give a realistic feel to the lives of the characters. More and more filmmakers are searching for real-world settings for their movies.

Troy, 2004's blockbuster hit starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, introduced the world to Malta. Most of Troy was filmed at Fort Ricasoli. The massive fort was built by the Knights of Malta sometime between 1670 and 1693. Many people around the world would have never had the opportunity to see Fort Ricasoli if producers had decided to use props in a studio.

A Different Loyalty, starring Sharon Stone, was shot in Fort St. Elmo in Valletta, Malta in 2004. Fort Saint Elmo divides Marsamxett Harbor and Grand Harbour and provides a grand entrance to both harbours. The fort doubled for the city of Beirut in the movie. The Golden Sands Beach was also chosen as a setting for parts of the movie.

Alexander, starring Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie and directed by Oliver Stone included shots from Valletta's Grand Harbour. Grand Harbour is a natural harbour that has been used at least since the Roman times. The harbour doubled as part of the ancient port city of Alexandria in the movie.

The 1995 pirate movie, Cutthroat Island, with Geena Davis and Matthew Modine, was filmed primarily in Vittoriosa. The Maritime Museum is seen multiple times in the film. Mdina, Fort St. Elmo and the Dingli Cliffs were also settings for scenes in the movie. Water tanks were provided by The Mediterranean Film Studio for use in the sea scenes.

A nighttime scene from Gladiator with Russell Crowe was filmed at Couvre Port just outside Vittoriosa. The remainder of the film was primarily shot at a replica of the Roman Coliseum. The replica was built at Fort Ricasoli on Malta.

The 1980 production of Popeye, starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall, was filmed near Mellieha. After building the set and filming the movie there, they left it all in place. Now known as Popeye Village, the set is a popular family attraction and includes a film about the making of the movie.

The 2002 movie The Count of Monte Cristo was actually filmed in Valletta and Vittoriosa instead of Marseille. The rocky area below Fort Saint Elmo served as the setting for a few scenes, as well as St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina. St. Mary's Tower on Comino Island doubled as the Chateau d'If.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie chose Malta to shoot their 2002 film, Swept Away. Different scenes used various sites in Comino and Malta. The Italian port in the movie was actually filmed in Vittriosa. The snorkelling scene was filmed in the Blue Lagoon on Comino Island, between Malta and Gozo.

Other movies and TV shows that have been filmed in Malta include Midnight Express, Pinocchio, Raise the Titanic, U-571, Orca: Killer Whale, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, White Squall and Helen of Troy. With such an impressive mix of movies, one has to ponder what comes next.

Many of the movies previously mentioned in this article have included specific parts of Malta for successful scenes. Most recently, Oscar-winning director Alejandro Amenabar has been working with Max Minghella and Rachel Weisz filming Agora. The ancient Egyptian epic is being filmed on Malta and includes at least three Maltese actors in leading roles. Maltese workers comprise much of the crew. Agora is the first film to be shot entirely on Malta.

The Maltese government sees this as yet another opportunity for growth and exposure for the island. They hope this will open the doors for many more movie directors and producers to choose Malta as the location for entire films in the future.

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