Contest Results

     I am pleased to say that the short film made up by Laura Agüera Santiago and me, "Keep in mind" has been rewarded with the first prize of the international contest of this year edition Cell Phone Cinema Contest, with the video, recorded with a cell phone -according to the rules- and with the involvement of Marta A.P., Rubén G.B., Isabel G.L. and Clara G.M.

     It will be projected, together with other short films of the festival, in the Women's History Month Film Festival 2015 organized by Women In Media- Newark, New Jersey (USA).

Music and poetry

     Life can be expressed in many different ways: with signs, acts, thoughts, but, above all, with Words. Since always, poetry - with its meter and rhythm – has been a means to transmit people’s feelings.

      Then, what is a verse? It is the easiest way of being you, of not caring about other’s thoughts or impressions about you. Sometimes, music accompany poetry, it gives it rhythm, melody and magnify it. Songs help us to take decisions, to act, but they also fill us with feelings such as happiness or sadness. It hasn’t got a teaching purpose, but, in some way, it help us to be better.

     A song cannot be too much distinguished from poetry. Both have stanzas, verses… Both have rhymes and a specific meter. They have a musical quality and a certain melodic touch. They are similar, two perfect twins, but with different personalities.

The song is the perfect poetry.

Interstellar / Big Hero 6 / The Theory of Everything / Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

    This weekend I have gone to the cinema to see some of the several films nominated for The Academy Awards. I have seen Interstellar, Big Hero 6, The Theory of Everything and Birdman. First of all, I have to say that all these productions are great and made by hard-working of every person involved in them.

     I’m going to do a little review of the films. Don’t worry; I’m not going to post any spoiler since I want you to watch these films. If you have done it, you can post a comment and say your opinion about the film or films you have seen. I hope you liked them as much as I like them.

INTERSTELLAR    

     This is a great production of Christopher Nolan. Nolan is famous by making films such as the Batman trilogy or Inception. All his films are made carefully and have more that they apparently have.

     This film is… I don’t know if someday I’ll find a word for it. It’s a Nolan’s film, what more can be said? Apart from the special effects or the breathtaking photography work, the plot and the characters are fantastic. However, it hasn’t been nominated for the best picture of for the best director. It has the nominations for Best original score, Best sound mixing, Best sound editing, Best production design and Best visual effects. We could say that Interstellar is the “Gravity” of 2015. Nevertheless, Nolan’s film is a lot deeper that the other one.

     One of the most impressively thing is that he knows exactly when to make the music (by Hans Zimmer) sound and when is necessary to be a silence. He knows how to play with the spectator’s feelings. There are brightly moments with a powerful intense and strength. You can really feel the characters feelings, not only because the directors and producer’s work, but also because the amazing play of some great characters like Matthew McConaughey,  Anne Hathaway, David Gyasi, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy, Matt Damon, Michael Caine, John Lithgow or Casey Affleck, among others.

     I definitely recommend you this film. You have to watch it!

This is one of my favourite characters of the film (and it will be yours, too)

TARS!!!!

BIG HERO 6

     This is a great film by Chris Williams and Don Hall. If you like Marvel films, you should watch it, since it comes from Marvel comics. SPOILER ALERT!! (You can see a cameo of Stan Lee, have you seen where?? Maybe you should go and make a portrait of your family…)

     This is totally recommended for all kind of children. It isn’t the typical easy film for them. They may not understand everything, but it is a fantastic story about overcoming against adversities. Sometimes we lose, but this film show that we have to stand up after a life blow, and try it again and again. Find our place in the world isn’t easy, but we have to never give up and move on.

     Maybe most of you don’t like it due to the fact that it’s a “children film”, but, anyway, I recommend you to see it. We all still have the children we were inside us, don’t forget it!

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

     As with Interstellar, I have no words for this film, it is just awesome. The work of the James Marsh is brilliant. Furthermore, the characterization by Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones was flawless. It is difficult to act as a real person, but what they do wasn’t act; they were Stephen and Jane Hawking. Not surprisingly, both characters are nominees for The Academy Awards as best actor and actress, and he won a Golden Globe last week because of this film.

      This film not only shows the full-obstacle life of the couple, but also the way they defeated all their personal and professional battles. It is based on Jane Hawking’s book, in which she talks about her personal life. Some people could think this is a romantic/drama film, but the loving part doesn’t make it such a romantic film, it makes it more realistic and more humane.

     If you haven’t seen it yet, I don’t know what you are waiting for, but you should definitely go, right now (even Stephen Hawking admit how great it has been done!).

BIRDMAN or (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

     I admit that it is a strange name, but the great management of Alejandro González Iñárritu and the actors and actresses performances have already earned them two Golden Globes last week. Moreover, they have been nominated for the Oscars in several categories.

     It is about an actor (Michael Keaton) attempt to become famous in Broadway. He had been really famous by a cinema superhero saga called “Birdman”, but that period of his life ended. The overcoming of this man will make him take strange decisions and the pressure of the premiere can make him lose his concentration. In addition, he has to deal with an ex-druggy daughter (Emma Stone) and a vain second actor (Edward Norton) who will make the pressure bigger and bigger.

     With an unexpected ending (or maybe not), the spectators could enjoy from all the film trying to find out how he is going to move on and get his goals. The performance of the actors is fantastic with other famous names like Naomi Watts or Lindsay Duncan, the brilliant cast doesn’t disappoint. You shouldn’t avoid going to see Birdman, one of the Best Picture Oscar’s Nominees. 

If you have seen some of these films, post a comment and tell us your opinion

Keep in mind

      In order to participate in an international contest (Cell Phone Cinema Contest), we have done a great short film about gender violence with some friends. This short film is only one more video about gender violence. This is fiction, but this kind of things usually happen in real life. 

     There is a woman, Alexandra, who has to deal with a difficult husband, Connor. At the beginning, everything is love and happyness with their adorable daughter. There is a family with a nice life, but everything knocked down when violence and scorn make the man acts irrationally. 

     The main difference from reallity is that, in fiction, we can always create good endings.

              

 
       I hope you like it.

Oscar Nominations 2015

Here you have the Oscar Nomination 2015 list: 

BEST PICTURE
"American Sniper"
"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
"Boyhood"
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"The Imitation Game"
"Selma"
"The Theory of Everything"
"Whiplash"

BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Marion Cotillard, “Two Days, One Night”
Felicity Jones, “The Theory of Everything”
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”
Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”

BEST LEAD ACTOR
Steve Carell, “Foxcatcher”
Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
Michael Keaton, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything"

BEST DIRECTOR
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
Bennett Miller, “Foxcatcher”
Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Morten Tyldum, “The Imitation Game”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Laura Dern, "Wild"
Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game"
Emma Stone, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
Meryl Streep, "Into The Woods"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Robert Duvall, "The Judge"
Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"
Edward Norton, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher"
J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
"Big Hero 6"
"The Boxtrolls"
"How To Train Your Dragon 2"
"Song of the Sea"
"The Tale of the Princess Kaguya"

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“CitizenFour”
“Finding Vivian Maier”
“Last Days in Vietnam”
“The Salt of the Earth”
“Virunga”

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1”
“Joanna”
“Our Curse”
“The Reaper (La Parka)”
“White Earth”

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“Ida” (Poland)
“Leviathan” (Russia)
“Tangerines” (Estonia)
“Timbuktu” (Mauritania)
“Wild Tales” (Argentina)

BEST ADAPTED SCREEN
Jason Hall, “American Sniper”
Graham Moore, “The Imitation Game”
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Inherent Vice”
Anthony McCarten, “The Theory of Everything”
Damien Chazelle, “Whiplash”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armando Bo, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”
E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, “Foxcatcher”
Wes Anderson (screenplay), Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness (story), “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Dan Gilroy, “Nightcrawler”

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
“The Bigger Picture”
“The Dam Keeper”
“Feast”
“Me and My Moulton”
“A Single Life”

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
“Aya”
“Boogaloo and Graham”
“Butter Lamp (La Lampe au Beurre de Yak)”
“Parvaneh”
“The Phone Call”

BEST MAKEUP AND HARISTYLING
“Foxcatcher,” Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier
“Guardians of the Galaxy,” Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Alexandre Desplat
“The Imitation Game,” Alexandre Desplat
“Interstellar,” Hans Zimmer
“Mr. Turner,” Gary Yershon
“The Theory of Everything,” Jóhann Jóhannsson

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Everything Is Awesome” in “The Lego Movie”
“Glory” in “Selma”
“Grateful” in “Beyond the Lights”
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” in “Glen Campbell … I’ll Be Me”
“Lost Stars” in “Begin Again

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” Emmanuel Lubezki
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Robert Yeoman
“Ida,” Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski
“Mr. Turner,” Dick Pope
“Unbroken,” Roger Deakins

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Milena Canonero
“Inherent Vice,” Mark Bridges
“Into the Woods,” Colleen Atwood
“Maleficent,” Anna B. Sheppard and Jane Clive
“Mr. Turner,” Jacqueline Durran

BEST FILM EDITING
“American Sniper,” Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach
“Boyhood,” Sandra Adair
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Barney Pilling
“The Imitation Game,” William Goldenberg
“Whiplash,” Tom Cross

BEST SOUND MIXING
“American Sniper,” John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and Thomas Varga
“Interstellar,” Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker and Mark Weingarten
“Unbroken,” Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño and David Lee
“Whiplash,” Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley

BEST SOUND EDITING
“American Sniper,” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” Martín Hernández and Aaron Glascock
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” Brent Burge and Jason Canovas
“Interstellar,” Richard King
“Unbroken,” Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Adam Stockhausen (production design) and Anna Pinnock (set decoration)
“The Imitation Game,” Maria Djurkovic (production design) and Tatiana Macdonald (set decoration)
“Interstellar” Nathan Crowley (production design) and Gary Fettis (set decoration)
“Into the Woods” Dennis Gassner (production design) and Anna Pinnock (set decoration)
“Mr. Turner” Suzie Davies (production design) and Charlotte Watts (set decoration)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill and Dan Sudick
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett and Erik Winquist
“Guardians of the Galaxy,” Stephane Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner and Paul Corbould
“Interstellar,” Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher
“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” Richard Stammers, Lou Pecora, Tim Crosbie and Cameron Waldbauer

     This year, the Oscars are going to be presented by Neil Patrick Harris!!      

     But we cannot forget the amazing performance of Ellen Degeneres last year.

For more information about the nominations, you cat give a look at the official page of The Academy.

Come back home

It is hard to say, but it's time to came back home...

Writing Contest

     You have to write a fantastic story. There isn’t an established topic, you can write about whatever you want to write. You only have to bear in mind that it cannot be longer than 1.000 words and that it have to be a fantastic and original story. Be creative and make the most of you!

Contest Basis:

• This is a writing contest

• The story must be minimum 500 words and maximum 1.000.

• The entry must be presented in a Word Document which has to be titled. At the beginning of the document you must specified:

1. Name and surname
2. E-mail
3. Age and nationality (in case you are under 13, you must have your parents or tutor’s permission to participate).
4. Title
5. Story

• The contest entry must be sent to our e-mail: latanthab@outlook.com, under the name “LATANTHA WRITING CONTEST”. In the e-mail, you must attach the Word Document with all the data specified above (if there is any problem opening the documents, we will contact with you in order to solve it).

• We are going to answer with an OK to all the e-mails we will receive for the contest to make sure that all the entries are received. In case you don’t get an answer in the next 24 hours from when you send the entry, it means we haven’t received it and that you have to send it again.

• Please, revise the misspellings. The more misspellings we find the worse qualification it will get.

• Only one entry is allowed per person (two or more entries from the same person will make that person out of the contest).

• The contest will start the 3^rd January 2015 and it ends the 27^th January 2015 at 23:59 (Spanish time). If you are from other country, you can consult the time here: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

• An only winner will be announced the 1^st February 2015.

• We will contact via e-mail with the winner once they are announced.

• This contest is INTERNATIONAL.

• Participating and accepting the contest rules let this blog be allowed to publish all the entries once the contest had finished.

The prize:

The winner entry will be published completely in this blog under the writers name or under a pseudonym. The winner will also receive a red mushroom key-ring similar to this:

The jury:

As it is the first contest organized in this blog, the jury will be the administrator of the blog. In order to make it more impartial, we will also count on some anonymous people who have volunteered. The jury decision must be respected.

If there is any doubt  about the contest, please, leave a comment and it will be solved.

ENJOY IT!!

Opinion essay

     Social networks are said to be necessary to help us to communicate and expand our world; however, they produce more drawbacks than benefits. In a worldwide expansion of the technology, people lose their direction in life entering the infinite world of social networks. Whereas most people believe they are the greatest invention of the last century, some of us truly think they are a step backwards in human evolution. Their capacity is amazing, but people are so much focused on them that they don’t enjoy their real life.

     The majority of people consider these net platforms as a way for communication – which is true. Nevertheless, they are quite obsessed with applications such as “WhatsApp” of “Twitter”, and they lose themselves in them. Other reasons are that social networks help you to socialize, (as you don’t have to have a face-to-face conversation), as well as to keep in contact with friends, to get interesting news or, even, to be cool. These could be strong reasons to support them if people really use them in the way they say they do.

     The truth of the social networks is that people use them to take a break from their exhausting works of studies. Furthermore, they are a way for people to disconnect from real life. Although socializing is a hard point, users become shier and shier since thy usually talk to people in chats ant ton in real experience.  In addition, finding friends through the Internet is not only dangerous but also disappointing due to the fact that friendship is, more and more, losing its true meaning. For instance, when you meet a friend and you receive a message, you feel the necessity of answering it and you focus on your mobile and not on what your fiend is telling you.

     Before technologies found their climax, human beings enjoyed walking, watching the breathtaking world they live in, and found little experiences richer that now. Personal relationships were more personal and life was less stifling. However, although most of time they don’t benefit us, sometimes they are necessary, like when someone you love is far away from you. Thus, people should try to find equilibrium between those points of view.

     To sum up, technologies aren’t the worst thing that the human being has invented, but we don’t have to overuse them. Real life should be as important as virtual life (or more). In order to solve this problem, people have to find a balance between old and modern ages to make social networks and currently fashions don’t have as technological implication as they have. Enjoying life should be the most important thing, and not locking ourselves up in a digital world.