(no subject)

I've been seeing a lot of people lately saying that there's no harm in seeing Ender's Game- that, as Card has already been paid for the screen rights, they won't be putting further money in his pocket. Aside from the fact that I'm not at all certain that that's true- he's a credited producer on the movie- there's the question of rights of further novels being purchased to consider. When Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was adapted to the screen in 1982, it's safe to say that no one in Hollywood had heard of Philip K. Dick (who died before Blade Runner was released). However, while Blade Runner wasn't a box office smash, it got an enormous amount of critical attention, not to mention huge home video/DVD/BluRay sales. Result: over a dozen Dick stories and novels have been optioned since then, and made into movies by people such as Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even if, say, the Alvin Maker series hasn't been optioned yet- enough ticket/DVD/BluRay sales, and it will be.

(no subject)

I've been seeing a lot of people lately saying that there's no harm in seeing Ender's Game- that, as Card has already been paid for the screen rights, they won't be putting further money in his pocket. Aside from the fact that I'm not at all certain that that's true- he's a credited producer on the movie- there's the question of rights of further novels being purchased to consider. When Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was adapted to the screen in 1982, it's safe to say that no one in Hollywood had heard of Philip K. Dick (who died before Blade Runner was released). However, while Blade Runner wasn't a box office smash, it got an enormous amount of critical attention, not to mention huge home video/DVD/BluRay sales. Result: over a dozen Dick stories and novels have been optioned since then, and made into movies by people such as Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even if, say, the Alvin Maker series hasn't been optioned yet- enough ticket/DVD/BluRay sales, and it will be.

(no subject)

I had an enchanting discussion yesterday with someone at the Berkeley Public Library about movies' use of plot (the physical actions perpetrated by the characters) vs story (the emotional lives and backstories of the characters), with regard to My Neighbor Totoro. I explained that Totoro is a masterwork of story: two children deal with the uncertainties of their mother's illness and moving to a new home by befriending forest spirits, who help them deal until their family can be reunited-a truly moving tale. ( Extremely mild spoiler for the plot of My Neighbor Totoro within. )

"See," I said at one point, "if this were a Hollywood movie, then plotwise, that would just be the first act. Then, when they're in the catbus, it gets attacked by an EVIL catbus, and they fight! Totoro's coming to help them, when he gets jumped by Mecha-Totoro, and THEY fight, and Mecha-Totoro defeats him temporarily. Then, at the climax, there's a huge battle, with the house in flames, and the children are in jeopardy, and Mecha-Totoro's fighting Totoro by hurling flaming acorns..."

Just like film school all over again :P~

(no subject)

I had an enchanting discussion yesterday with someone at the Berkeley Public Library about movies' use of plot (the physical actions perpetrated by the characters) vs story (the emotional lives and backstories of the characters), with regard to My Neighbor Totoro. I explained that Totoro is a masterwork of story: two children deal with the uncertainties of their mother's illness and moving to a new home by befriending forest spirits, who help them deal until their family can be reunited-a truly moving tale. ( Extremely mild spoiler for the plot of My Neighbor Totoro within. )

"See," I said at one point, "if this were a Hollywood movie, then plotwise, that would just be the first act. Then, when they're in the catbus, it gets attacked by an EVIL catbus, and they fight! Totoro's coming to help them, when he gets jumped by Mecha-Totoro, and THEY fight, and Mecha-Totoro defeats him temporarily. Then, at the climax, there's a huge battle, with the house in flames, and the children are in jeopardy, and Mecha-Totoro's fighting Totoro by hurling flaming acorns..."

Just like film school all over again :P~

(no subject)

Random: I very much like that "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" was shortened as a title to "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Not only would the former have been a nightmare to fit on a marquee, but it blunts the point: Indy himself is every bit as much a looter of priceless antiquities and holy relics as Belloq and the Nazis.

(no subject)

Quick facts:

Californians are already legally able to change identity documents. This law makes is safer and cheaper by
>removing court requirement/fee,
>and removing the public notification requirement.
>Full implementation by July, 2014.

(SACRAMENTO) Assembly Bill 1121, authored by Assemblymember Toni Atkins and co-sponsored by Equality California and the Transgender Law Center was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown today. The bill will help ensure people who are transgender have better access to legal name changes and identity documents that accurately reflect their gender identity.

(no subject)

Quick facts:

Californians are already legally able to change identity documents. This law makes is safer and cheaper by
>removing court requirement/fee,
>and removing the public notification requirement.
>Full implementation by July, 2014.

(SACRAMENTO) Assembly Bill 1121, authored by Assemblymember Toni Atkins and co-sponsored by Equality California and the Transgender Law Center was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown today. The bill will help ensure people who are transgender have better access to legal name changes and identity documents that accurately reflect their gender identity.

(no subject)

"Freedom to Marry’s national strategy has been to win a final victory in the Supreme Court. The key to encouraging the Court to rule in favor of the freedom to marry nationwide is to work the tracks of the Roadmap to Victory: growing public support, winning more states, and ending federal discrimination. While we create the climate for the Court in favor of marriage, here is a comprehensive look at marriage-related legal cases already underway" (in 19 states):

(no subject)

"Freedom to Marry’s national strategy has been to win a final victory in the Supreme Court. The key to encouraging the Court to rule in favor of the freedom to marry nationwide is to work the tracks of the Roadmap to Victory: growing public support, winning more states, and ending federal discrimination. While we create the climate for the Court in favor of marriage, here is a comprehensive look at marriage-related legal cases already underway" (in 19 states):