Admit One

Count to 10 before you speak: Eric Schiffer Seop on resolving conflicts within the production team

2012-02-21T21:41:00.000-08:00

I, Eric Schiffer Seop, have learned a lot of things in filmmaking. Because I’m always at my buddy Carl Johnson’s side whenever he is directing independent films, I can’t really help but observe the way he directs and handles the production. But what I admire the most is his ability to resolve conflicts within his production team.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Virtualofficeexpress.net

Carl said he always advises his crew to think first before acting on a certain circumstance. “Count to 10 before you say anything,” he tells his team members whenever he predicts that certain arguments are about to arise. Carl doesn’t want his crew to do anything when they’re angry so everything must be settled first before they resume filming. “Professionalism is another key to problem resolution, Eric Schiffer Seop,” he added. According to him, instead of acting in a certain manner that would elicit unprofessional responses, his team must deal with the situation professionally. “Whenever I feel tension between my crew members, I usually call for a production meeting to let them know my two cents on a certain matter without having to confront a certain person.”

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Heartlikewater.net

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Google Images

Carl also said that before the actual production, it will also benefit everyone if their responsibilities are clearly explained. This way, unnecessary actions that would draw out conflicts can be avoided. “Just do your job, and I will do mine,” Carl added.

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Eric Schiffer Seop: A catastrophe movie with a different feeling to it

2012-02-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Whattup, movie geeks? It’s Eric Schiffer Seop again, fresh from another weekend spent doing one of the things that I love the most – a movie marathon. One of the movies I picked for this weekend’s list was Perfect Sense, as I’ve heard some conflicting opinions about it from my friends.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Filmstage.com

The movie does a different take on catastrophe as the pandemic that threatens mankind comes in the form of the loss of a person’s senses – not a natural disaster or a man-made threat that makes it seem like the world will be ending.

Given the scenario and the way it was shown, it soon became evident to me as I watched why my friends were debating over the value of the film.

Anyone who has spent time with me, Eric Schiffer Seop, will know that I appreciate refreshing takes on old scenarios in movies. This sensory take on what the end could be like for humankind is one that I can appreciate as it does not devolve into a race against time, run for survival as most catastrophe movies do.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Kingsroad.it

On the other hand, it does not explain the scenario well enough. The audience is given too little to work with – there is no explanation of the cause. The audience should just accept that the world is falling into a sort of ruin because people are losing their ability to sense.

Meanwhile, the romance is forced at best. In spite of casting two beautiful actors – Ewan McGregor and Eva Green – whatever emotional weight that was supposed to be there was still hard to accept.

In other scenes, the movie tries to communicate the lengths people would do to survive such a catastrophe but the beauty of the message gets lost in exaggeration. And yet, in spite of these flaws, the film does give the audience a good sense of what it is to be human. For this reason alone, I thought that it was a good watch.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Filmofilia.com

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Eric Schiffer Seop: Katherine Heigl breaks her rom-com pattern in "One for the Money"

2012-02-02T20:37:00.001-08:00

Hey guys, Eric Schiffer Seop here with another film review. This time, it’s a movie starring rom-com queen Katherine Heigl.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: NYDailyNews.com

Based on the best-selling novel by Janet Evanovich and the first in her Stephanie Plum series, One for the Money stars Ms. Heigl as Stephanie Plum, a newly-divorced woman who takes on a job at her cousin’s bail bond business where she soon finds herself trailing a wanted cop who happens to be her ex-boyfriend. Though this film still has that rom-com element to it, it also involves guns, bomb explosions, and a lot of punches. Plus, it’s set in New Jersey.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Aceshowbiz.com

My expectations for this film weren’t all that high (compared to the novel’s loyal fans), but I, Eric Schiffer Seop, must admit that Katherine Heigl’s portrayal of Stephanie Plum was pretty cool. Sure, we’ve seen her play smart aleck characters countless of times, but her role in this movie seems different. Maybe it’s because of the gun-firing or that Jersey accent that makes her appear tougher (and hotter!). Lucky for her, a tough persona suits her well, which I think she should take note of the next time she does a film.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Moviefanatic.com

Unfortunately (and surprisingly), it’s only Ms. Heigl’s performance that’s worthy of credit. The supporting characters were miscast, the dialogue wasn’t all that impressive, and the overall direction was weak, with a bunch of camera shots that were unnecessary. Though One for the Money is slowly climbing the box office charts, I wouldn’t be surprised if this also becomes the last film in the book series.

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Eric Schiffer Seop on this year’s Oscar nomination surprises

2012-01-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

Hey, dudes. It’s the Oscar season once again, and I, Eric Schiffer Seop, am thrilled for this year’s nominees.

Any film geek would expect films like The Descendants, The Help, The Artist, and Moneyball to be included in the nominees list. Likewise, recent Globes winners George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jean Dujardin, and Octavia Spencer are also expected to be included in the acting categories. Still, there’s still a bunch of surprises that came with the recent announcement.

Eric Schiffer Seop. Source: News.com.au

First off, I was definitely surprised to see Rooney Mara and Jonah Hill get nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. I’m not saying they don’t deserve the recognition – which they definitely do – but I was expecting veteran actors like Tilda Swinton and Viggo Mortensen to get the nod.

Eric Schiffer Seop. Source: Inquisitir.com

Second, Eric Schiffer Seop here is most definitely delighted that Melissa McCarthy got a Best Supporting Actress nod for her knee-slapping comedic performance in Bridesmaids. This is really a great surprise since she was snubbed at the Globes.

Another surprise – or more of an upset – is the lack of nominations for indie films Melancholia, Drive, and Martha Marcy May Marlene. Judging by the amount of buzz and critical acclaim that these films have received, I was expecting that they’d get at least one nomination out of all the categories.

Eric Schiffer Seop. Source: Smellslikescreenspirit.com

Lastly, I was surprised to see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close get a Best Picture nod. Since I wasn’t too pleased with the other 9/11-themed film World Trade Center, I wasn’t expecting much from this. I guess I just have to see for myself what the buzz is all about.

Well, that’s all for now. Peace out!

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Eric Schiffer Seop: Brad Pitt in the ink suit

2012-01-18T22:33:00.000-08:00

Whaddup? Eric Schiffer Seop here. Now, I greatly admire Brad Pitt in his roles as an actor, amplified as it was by his performance in films like Benjamin Button and Inglourious Basterds. Brad’s clearly moved on from his days wearing a chicken suit, being successful both in action movies and dramas.

Of course, this reputation, coupled with his superstar status, has made him a choice part of an all-star voice cast in animated movies. He has worked as a voice actor for projects for animation giants Dreamworks and Warner Brothers.

Brad’s first major stint as a voice actor is that of the roguish sailor Sinbad in the eponymous animated feature. He played an antiheroic pirate, which, given his previous roles, is pretty fitting. Eric Schiffer Seop the animation fan is kind of disappointed with the closure for Dreamworks’ traditional animation department, which ended with, sadly, this underrated film.

He would later on star in a more archetypically (super)heroic role of Metro Man, rival to the lovable supervillain protagonist of the Dreamworks CGI feature Megamind. Here, he takes on the supporting role of a foil to the titular baddie, being the absurd ace to the arrogant but ineffectual Megamind.

His latest role in an animated feature lands him in casting gag territory. He and Matt Damon end up playing snarky krill (tiny, shrimp-like things that everything in Antarctica seems to want to eat) in the Warner Brothers film Happy Feet 2.

Well, that’s pretty much that. Peace!

More of Eric Schiffer Seop’s musings, movie trivia, and reviews are on Twitter.

La Strada: Eric Schiffer Seop on the neo-realist theme of the classic film

2012-01-12T02:30:00.000-08:00

La Strada, or “The Road” in English, is an Italian black and white drama film released in 1954. As you may have already known, I, Eric Schiffer Seop, am a big fan of classic films, especially those shot in gray scale like this one. La Strada is a genius masterpiece that chronicles the finer aspects of life.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo credit: Blogspot

Set in a seedy travelling carnival, this Federico Fellini-directed symbolism-rich piece of drama revolves around the hooligan strong man Zampano, his naive and servile girlfriend Gelsomina, and aerialist Matto. Appalled at Zampano’s insensitive treatment of Gelsomina, the gentle-natured Matto invites her to escape with him. But Gelsomina, like a loyal pet, refuses to leave the strong man’s side. She is willing to spend the rest of her life serving his boyfriend as she believes that despite the man’s coarseness, there’s still goodness in his heart.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo credit: Blogspot

Your film buff here, Eric Schiffer Seop, believes that La Strada is a love story that will transcend many boundaries, although it isn’t until the very end of the film that viewers will realize it. More than love, it is about a man who gains insight and awareness out of affectionate human feeling, thus changing his mind-set for life. Seen in the end of the story, this change demonstrates both the imperfection and vitality of the human condition. It strongly suggests that the individual, no matter how decadent, is still able to morally evolve.

Written by Fellini and Tullio Pinelli and scored by Nino Rota, La Strada was the victor of the first official Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film in 1956.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo credit: Film-Forward.com

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Being rather than acting: Eric Schiffer Seop on Meryl Streep's winning performances

2012-01-04T01:49:00.001-08:00

Whattup, movie fans? Eric Schiffer Seop here.

Eric Schiffer Seop Wikipedia.org

Being a movie fanatic, it’s hard not to admire talented actresses, especially one such as Meryl Streep.

Many regard her as the greatest living film actress today and she has an impressive body of work which has earned her nominations for the Academy Award 16 times (yeah, 16!) and won twice. It’s easy to see the dedication she puts into her work and she is also known in the industry as a perfectionist when preparing for her roles. Her gusto to remain true to the character is probably one of the reasons why she has been selected many times in the past to portray real-life personalities.

Eric Schiffer Seop ArticleWeb.org

I, Eric Schiffer Seop, am once again weak-kneed with admiration for her performance in her most recent work, The Iron Lady, which puts her in the shoes of the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Here, Meryl Streep’s natural and believable imitation of the extremely driven Thatcher makes the character a little more likeable, even to the worst of Thatcher’s own critics.

On the other hand, the film itself as a whole was not nearly as good as Ms. Streep’s performance. Much of its other elements were underwhelming and sometimes downright disappointing. Still, in spite of its faults, this movie is still worth watching, if only for how Ms. Streep’s performance reminded me of how it is like for an actress to be truly immersed in her role.

Maybe I should put up a shrine for Meryl Streep?

Eric Schiffer Seop How-to-learn.co.uk

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2011 movies: Eric Schiffer Seop’s thoughts on the year that was

2011-12-29T01:27:00.000-08:00

‘Sup? Eric Schiffer Seop here. 2011’s coming to a close, and I can’t help but look back on the past year and think about the movies that I’ve seen.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Virtualofficeexpress.net

The thing about movies is that you’ll never really have a say until you’ve actually seen the film. And as usual, there are hits and misses this year. But to stay on the positive vibe for the New Year, let’s discuss only the good ones, ‘kay?

Topping my list of awesome movies is Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Saying Rupert Wyatt did an amazing job is an understatement. The movie that is said to be a rebooted version of the original Planet of the Apes has indeed captured your man Eric Schiffer Seop here. What made the film great? Its stimulating plot (a battle of intelligence between men and primate) and convincing visual treatment, dude.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Getthebigpicture.net

Another film that I found very interesting is Hugo. Again, like what I mentioned a few reviews back, I liked the cast, setting, and story. And the film was in 3D, man!

I also watched The Artist this year. I was thinking that it would be just another disappointment and I’d walk out of the theatre in the middle of the movie. But much to my surprise, I liked it! The film that was shown on October during the New York Film Festival. It surprisingly caught the interest of many, perhaps because of the out of the box treatment to the film – to create it into a silent film, that is – which made it stand out from movies boasting of special effects and new cinematic trends.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Impawards.com

Other movies that I’m glad I watched are The Muppets (yeah, I watched it. Got a problem with that?), Contagion, and (I just had to witness the ending of one of the most talked about movie series) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) .

And as my last hurrah for 2011, I give two thumbs up to the movie adaptation of the dark literary piece, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I think Rooney Mara deserves an award. Agree with me, bros?

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Eric Schiffer Seop: A closer look at Cameron Crowe's heartwarming films

2011-12-20T20:23:00.000-08:00

The holidays are a perfect time to watch movies that evoke a heartwarming feeling, which is why I, Eric Schiffer Seop, have decided to focus on films by Cameron Crowe, a brilliant screenwriter and director known for his simple yet touching films (but of course, Quentin Tarantino’s still number one!).

One of my favorites is the comedy-drama Almost Famous, about a teenage journalist who works on an article about a rock band to be featured on Rolling Stone magazine. This film included breakthrough performances from Patrick Fugit and Kate Hudson who played the iconic role of Penny Lane. What’s awesome about this movie is how it reminds me of an era of great music from bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin.

Eric Schiffer Seop Fanpop.com

Another Cameron Crowe film that is also included in Eric Schiffer Seop’s list of favorite rom-coms (which could be discussed in another time) is Jerry Maguire. This film, which contains the famous line “You had me at hello,” remains to be Crowe’s most financially successful film. Although it is generally a rom-com, I dig how it centers on sports and how the characters of Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding transformed during the course of the film.

Eric Schiffer Seop Webmarchand.ch

Cameron Crowe’s latest film, We Built a Zoo, is based on a true story about how a family used all of their savings to buy a dilapidated zoo. I sure am curious to see this film particularly because of Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, who I am used to seeing in serious, action-driven roles.

Eric Schiffer Seop Buzznet.com

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Eric Schiffer Seop: New Year’s Eve is nothing new

2011-12-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

Waddup, guys? Eric Schiffer Seop here again with yet another one of my movie rants. You’d think I would have learned by now to avoid certain movies—the ones that just scream disappointment from the get go. But, well, sometimes I just get way too curious. So, saying, I admit to having seen New Year’s Eve just recently.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Trailershut.com

It really is not my type of movie and I wonder why anyone would want to watch movies like this at all. It’s a matter of ‘to each his own,’ I suppose. Maybe it’s just some weird yearly movie tradition that won’t go away that easily.

In any case, what do we have in New Year’s Eve? Like I, Eric Schiffer Seop, said previously: nothing new to see here, folks. It’s the same formula that we’ve seen many times before and most recently in the movie Valentine’s Day. We have a large cast, this time including Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashston Kutcher, Hilary Swank, Robert De Niro, and others. There’s not enough popcorn to list down everyone in the cast.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Onlinemovieshut.com

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Poptower.com

Basically, we have so many well-known people in one movie where they don’t actually do anything memorable. What a waste! Most of them are paired with another actor to show the different relationships that people have and the array of circumstances people face at the arrival of a new year. It could have been interesting somehow, if only the pair-ups actually had any chemistry or something of that sort going on for them.

Ultimately, this movie bummed me out and it’s better for you to avoid it—if only, at least, to give my decision to watch it some semblance of a purpose.

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Eric Schiffer Seop: Why some movie adaptations fail

2011-12-09T01:03:00.000-08:00

“Eric Schiffer Seop, you are invited to the special screening of…”

I was cleaning my desk the other day and found out that I have a few unused movie passes. Some were supposed to be gifts for my friends who also love watching movies, and the others were for screenings that I wasn’t able to attend to due to my hectic schedule (film shoots and brainstorming left and right – but I ain’t complaining!).

One of the passes that I wasn’t able to use was for the movie Captain America, one movie adaptation that, after watching it on DVD later on, failed to impress, if I may say so. This actually stirred my thoughts on why some movie adaptations fail and why others actually achieve blockbuster status.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Whatisgeorgethinking.com

Let’s take on Fight Club, an Eric Schiffer Seop favorite. Based on the novel of fiction novelist Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club received thumbs up from Hollywood bigwigs as the book was seamlessly transformed into a motion picture, with the help of veteran actors Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter, and of course, its celebrated director, David Fincher.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Moviegoods.com

However, contrary to the success of films such as The Godfather, A Clockwork Orange, American Psycho, and Lord of the Rings trilogy, among others, there are others that fail to captivate the audiences the way their books or comics did. Some movies that pale in comparison to their literary counterpart are:

- Daredevil (2003) – Comic geeks loathe how the blind superhero’s story was portrayed in the film.

- Catwoman (2004) – Most movie critics, such as I, believe that the actress (Halle Berry), though oozing with sexiness, didn’t fit the bill. Even the supposed sexy evil laugh of Catwoman wasn’t given justice.

- The Da Vince Code (2006) – The book was so good and the movie didn’t top that. There’s lack of thrill and some important scenes were cut out.

Eric Schiffer Photo Credit: Rosslynhoax.com

These are but three of the movies that didn’t meet the spectators’ expectations due to different reasons – budget, writer, cinematographer, director, and actors. But the fact that other films made the cut and hit the box office slots ensures filmmakers that it is possible to make a good film out of a good book.

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Eric Schiffer Seop: Movie scenes that bring out the best and worst in dads

2011-12-01T02:08:00.000-08:00

Movie characters are just like us in some respects. In some cases, they too have issues with their parents and children. Eric Schiffer Seop here. ‘Sup? I’m here to discuss a few of my favorite daddy issue scenes I’ve watched over the years.

1. The big twist in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, where Darth Vader reveals himself to be Luke Skywalker’s father (“It was shocking to say the least,” said my dad when he watched it back in the day).

From moviefanatic.com

2. On the heartwarming side is the court scene in I Am Sam, where the title character (who has autism) appeals not to have his daughter taken away from him.

From Wikipedia

3. In August Rush, a street musician jams and gets good advice from his father—without either of them knowing who the other was.

From Wikipedia

While we share the same taste in many movies, my dad is fond of telling me “Eric Schiffer Seop, aren’t you too old for cartoons?” The old man doesn’t know me at all, dudes.

4. In The Lion King, one of my favorite scenes is where Mufasa (in spirit form) tells Simba to take his place as the rightful king.

From Fanpop.com

5. A scene in Mulan that really got to me was where after she gives her father gifts to honor him, he responds by hugging her, telling her that having her as a daughter is his greatest honor. (I got teary eyed, can you believe?)

From Wikipedia

Read more of my reviews and other occasional bouts of sappiness at the Eric Schiffer Seop Twitter page.

Eric Schiffer Seop: Remembering really bad movies (even when you’d rather not)

2011-11-25T03:52:00.000-08:00

Hey, how’s it goin’? It’s me, Eric Schiffer Seop, back with another review and boy, is this one’s a zinger.

Now, I like a good sci-fi flick every once in a while. There are those visual spectacles that blow your mind with ground-breaking special effects and compelling storylines. For that we have Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Contact, and others.

From Wikipedia

And then there are these films—really bad sci-fi movies that redefine epic fail even before the term was invented. Listed below are two god-awful films that make one cringe (or cry in disgust) while watching them. They’ve been relentlessly nitpicked by Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (it’s a show that has the Eric Schiffer Seop mark of approval, if you can find it).

From TV Tropes

Attack of the the Eye Creatures. An extra “the” was added when it was redistributed, hence the absurd title. The story (a cheap remake of Invasion of the Saucer Men) is basically about two teens (played by adults) who try to stop an alien invasion by the badly-designed eye creatures. This film was basically notorious for its production errors and goofs—a lot of goofs.

From TV Tropes

Plan 9 from Outer Space is on the opposite end of the badness scale—by that I mean, on a scale of really bad to bad but good. Directed by the infamous Ed Wood and starring Bela Lugosi, Plan 9’s plot can be summed up as follows: aliens use zombies to take over the world. It has been named “the worst movie of all time.” Don’t bother buying some popcorn if you decide to watch this flick. You might lose your appetite.

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Eric Schiffer Seop takes a look at the dark side: Film’s greatest villain acts

2011-11-14T18:44:00.000-08:00

What’s up? Eric Schiffer Seop here again, and this time, I’m taking a good look at the proverbial dark side. See, with some of the movies I saw recently, I realized that a great actor in a villainous role really does wonders in raising a movie’s appeal. At times, it takes just the right glint of insanity, the right amount of creepiness, and an almost palpable intensity from beyond the movie screen to make any flick truly memorable.

From Fanpop.com

Take for example, Anthony Hopkins’ performance in The Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter was one smooth operator. He was confident and charming. You would almost believe him when he said that a person’s liver goes best with fava beans and Chianti but then you realize, “Hey, he’s talking about human liver.”

From The Lounge

Another one that I, Eric Schiffer Seop, remember the most is Darth Vader from Star Wars. This one might be more of character concept than great acting but one really can’t find fault in the execution. The thing about this dude was that he looked so menacing, so intimidating for a half-dead man in a suit of armor that was also like his casket.

From Allstarpics.net

For an example in a more recent film, I thought of Hans Landa from Inglorious Basterds (you know I love Quentin Tarantino films, so this one’s a given).There’s something absolutely chilling in his near maniacal glee as he does things which are, in his mind, the best in a given circumstance – not caring even if it involves torturing people or betraying his leader.

Those were some of the best villains I could think of at the moment. There are lots more, of course, but I’ll have to do a mini-movie marathon again to remember just what made them great. Until then, peace out!

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Eric Schiffer Seop: The highs and lows of Tower Heist

2011-11-07T03:01:00.000-08:00

What’s up? Eric Schiffer Seop here again, about to give you guys the lowdown on yet another movie, and this time we have Tower Heist.

From Eric Schiffer Seop

I find that this movie couldn’t have been shown at a better time as it deals with the rebellion of the staff of a luxury high-rise in Manhattan which was instigated due to the loss of their pension funds to a scam perpetrated by Arthur Shaw, played by Alan Alda, a financier who owns the penthouse suite. Making things worse is that this mogul actually doesn’t give a damn about his actions and its cause on the lives of these working class people. In effect, we’re supposed to see a comedic take on the 99% versus the 1% here.

From Eric Schiffer Seop

I, Eric Schiffer Seop, initially thought that I’d find a less cool, less suave, and, more importantly, a hilarious group that’s kind of like the one in Ocean’s Eleven. I was right. The team is a rag-tag group led by Josh (Ben Stiller) and comprised of Charlie (Casey Affleck),Dev’reuaux (Michael Peña), and Odessa (GaboureySidibe), with the aid of the criminal, Slide (Eddie Murphy), and a bankrupt businessman, Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick.)

While that part was predictable, the laughs in this movie aren’t and I found myself laughing more than I should have (I choked on some popcorn!) I probably missed a few lines while laughing. I realize that there are some that may not appreciate this kind of humor that might seem to make light of tough situations but on the other hand, I do believe that sometimes we just need a good laugh before we go on to deal with desperate conditions. After all dude, laughter is the medicine.

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Eric Schiffer Seop: On movies playing on our fears

2011-11-04T14:32:00.000-07:00

Hey there, it’s Eric Schiffer Seop again. Don’t you just love a good horror movie? I sure do and I love the effect they have on me and on people in general. It takes a good concept and great execution to make a movie have an effect on the viewers, though, and it isn’t easy to achieve.

From Lovehkfilm

I’m sure many of you can relate with some irrational fears that just won’t seem to go away. One of my favorite examples of this is the one where a person is afraid to open their eyes while shampooing. Somehow, that temporary lack of sight can incite anyone to imagine the worst and when they open their eyes before rinsing the shampoo away—you guessed it—there’s shampoo in their eyes! Ow!

I, Eric Schiffer Seop, consider things like this interesting. I find that the best horror flicks are those that don’t scare me while I’m watching them but instead, leave a lasting impression on me that I take with me for the next few days (maybe months). It doesn’t even have to be something purely psychological, like the scare in the Japanese The Ring movies. Sometimes it just needs to be something so horribly graphic that I won’t dare take a look at the real version of that object for a while.

From Happyhorror.com

When you think about it, we humans are such strange creatures. We have such extreme reactions to getting scared and yet we actually pay to watch movies to scare ourselves (there goes my money for that movie ticket I just bought). What is up with that?

I guess it’s because we actually love getting scared and convincing ourselves that we are braver than we actually are. I mean, how else can you explain the attraction of movies like Paranormal Activity 3, which did quite well on its first week?

From Shockya

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Eric Schiffer Seop: The Beatles, animation, storyline – all in Across the Universe

2011-10-25T03:46:00.000-07:00

Year after year, film producers continue to provide viewers with exciting movies. Although some movies deserve rotten tomatoes, I, Eric Schiffer Seop, am glad that filmmakers take risks and incorporate different aspects and techniques in filmmaking in just one roll.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Kaseydriscoll.wordpress.com

Across the Universe is a movie that I’ll use as an example, just because I stumbled upon it on cable the other night. Although this movie is not really a part of my all-time favorites, Across the Universe still got my interest when it was shown in 2007 because of how the following elements are combined: musical scoring, animation, and storyline.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Among the hundreds of films that I have seen, Across the Universe is one of those attention-grabbing films that combine animation with real-life characters. You know how movies like Amelie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, among others, do it? Or, maybe it’s Eric Schiffer Seop The Beatles fan who is talking about the movie right now.

Moreover, what I particularly like about Across the Universe is its contemporary setting. A movie set in the Vietnam War era, with characters suddenly bursting into Beatles songs, and cinematography equipped with different animations – my favorite being the bleeding strawberries, Across the Universe has received both thumbs up and thumbs down from various movie critics and audience.

Eric Schiffer Seop Photo Credit: Fanpop.com

A simple, feel-good movie, without an overwhelming plot, Across the Universe has good casting too, with Evan Rachel Wood (Lucy), who is a timeless beauty, Jim Sturgess (Jude) and Joe Anderson (Max), who both have amazing voices. A real treat for Beatles fans, who wouldn’t mind hearing covers throughout the entire movie, and for animated films fans (get ready for a sudden shift of underwater scenes and a trip with the hippie bus), Across the Universe is a must-see movie in its own way.

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Eric Schiffer Seop filmmaking notes: A discussion on character motivation

2011-10-18T03:32:00.001-07:00

How’s it going? Here I am once again to share with you some thoughts on film. As you may have learned from my other Eric Schiffer Seop blogs, I have been involved in some indie film projects here in New York. Aside from my love for the craft, another one of my reasons for immersing myself in different independent film projects is to develop a fine (and different) perspective on filmmaking.

Photo Credit: Google Images

When a friend of mine, Carl Johnson (definitely not the one from Grand Theft Auto), a fellow indie director who also grew up in the borough of Queens, was making a film, he called me up (“Hey, Eric the man!”) to invite me to observe and evaluate his filmmaking process. One tidbit: when we were young, Carl and I used to spend some weeknights sneaking out to watch movies at the local theater instead of doing our homework. He had a seat with the name Eric Schiffer Seop printed on the back prepared on the set, knowing how I'd love to be behind the scenes.

Photo Credit: Google Images

Carl has mad directing skills. It’s crystal clear that he’s so engrossed in his craft that he obsesses even about the tiniest details in the film. Case in point: without batting an eyelash, he immediately noticed that one of his extras missed one word – one word! – from the script.

One day, while filming, he asked (politely, of course) that actor to review and memorize his lines. Carl could have just sent the dude to one side and let him be but instead, my director friend pulled the actor aside and looked him in the eye, and before I knew it, they started throwing lines from the script at each other. Right there and then, I thought that I was already watching a real movie. I watched them practice for half an hour in amazement. Man, those two were so amazing. “Oh man,” I told Carl, “So that’s how you motivate your characters.” And what’s more awesomesauce is that after their practice, the actor got better with his acting chops and his emotions translated well into the film.

If there’s one thing I learned from my observation of Carl’s movie making process, it is important for directors to know how to motivate their actors. How the audience will be attached to the film depends on how real the emotions of the actors are. He calls me “the man,” but really, Carl IS the man. Peace out!

Now, if only he can place Eric Schiffer Seop on the end credits, that would even be more awesome.

From Admit One

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The art of cinematography: Eric Schiffer Seop discusses the crucial role of a cinematographer in a movie’s success

2011-10-13T03:51:00.000-07:00

What’s up? Here I am once again, Eric Schiffer Seop of Queens, New York, to discuss some thoughts regarding filmmaking. For us movie analysts, there are different factors to consider before determining whether a film is a success or not, and one of the things we look into most of the time is the film’s cinematography.

Photo Credit: http://how-to-learn.co.uk

Cinematography is usually defined as the making of lighting and camera selection when recording photographic images for cinema. Among the best in the business when it comes to this craft is the legendary Charles Rosher, a two-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer who worked from the early days of silent films through the 1950s.

From Admit One

I, Eric Schiffer Seop, tip my hat to this guy. Aside from his success as being the first cinematographer to receive one of the most-sought-after awards in the film industry, his work with Karl Struss on F.W. Murnau’s 1927 film Sunrise is regarded by many as a milestone in cinematography. Because of his skill, this dude became one of the most preferred cinematographers in Hollywood in the 20s.

From Admit One

What makes Rosher’s camera works excellent is his approach when it comes to the following elements of cinematography:

Perspective – Rosher’s selection of framing, camera placement, focal length and depth of field is excellent.

Lighting – The lighting of the films in which he directed the photography translates well on screen.

Camera movement – His choice of camera movement works wonderfully with different shots.

Thanks to the way he handled these elements, the movie Sunrise received an Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production.

Want more of my ideas? Follow me on Twitter. Peace out.

Photo Credit: http://how-to-learn.co.uk