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Before his ground-breaking masterpieces like Memento, The Dark Knight, and his Oscar-winning epic, Oppenheimer, a 19‑year‑old Christopher Nolan spent his weekends in the late‑1980s shooting an eerie, 8 mm horror short called Tarantella that would not have been out of place in the library of David Lynch’s most unsettling movies. For more than three decades, the five‑minute film was considered lost until it was uploaded to YouTube in 2021 – and very quickly taken down for copyright reasons. Now the film has crept back onto the video sharing site via The Great Cinema’s channel, and fans should really check it out while they can.

For those who were freaked out by the micro-budgeted viral sensation Skinamarink, and don’t like their on-screen nightmares to make a lot of sense in favor of being more experimental, Nolan’s early exploration of how it was possible to do a lot...

Christopher Nolan is known for crafting cinematic epics, often within the world of science fiction. From Inception to Interstellar, Nolan dabbles in genre to create his deeply affecting stories that have. But did you know that Nolan once made a horror short film titled Tarantella? In fact, according to IMDb, it’s the first film Nolan ever made. The film has been lost for 32 years, but just a few days ago, The Great Cinema uploaded the film to their YouTube channel, finally giving Nolan fans a glimpse into the auteur’s young brain.

At just under five minutes long, the 1989 short film follows a young man experiencing nightmares about big spiders and demons. It’s rather surreal in its editing and cinematography, and serves as a fascinating precursor to one of Nolan’s first feature films, Memento, which was released in 2000. Tarantella feels like a young Nolan working through the...

Christopher Nolan is one of the most acclaimed directors and filmmakers of our time and one of the best of all time, without a doubt. Known for his perfectionsim, Nolan is a director who always brought something new and original to the screen, something that challenges us as the viewers.

Nolan’s career “started” in 1998 with the feature film Following, and since then he has given us a hit after hit, establishing himself as a revolutionary filmmaker. But, as many filmmakers before him, Nolan started experimenting much earlier.

In 1989, along with Roko Belic, Nolan made a short horror film called Tarantella. The film was thought to have been lost, but it has not only been rediscovered, but also uploaded online.

Related: Lupita Nyong’o Rumored to Play Dual Roles in Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’—Helen of Troy & Clytemnestra!

Here is the film:

As you can see, Nolan appears personally in this four-minute experimental horror.

Having established himself with a string of low-budget, transgressive films, New Queer Cinema luminary Gregg Araki expanded his budgetary and artistic palette with his so-called Teen Apocalypse Trilogy, a series of narratively unrelated but thematically linked features about LGBTQ youths living on the margins of a Los Angeles redolent of the desiccated outskirts of the city as seen in Alex Cox’s Repo Man. Like that film, 1993’s Totally F***ed Up, 1995’s The Doom Generation, and 1997’s Nowhere are informed by the legacy and aesthetics of punk, but Araki builds on that foundation with styles drawn from the queer underground, as well as the rise of ’90s alternative music in its myriad forms of noise.

Totally F***ed Up sets the general narrative tone and atmosphere for all three features in the trilogy. Though it does have certain narrative through lines, the most significant of which is telegraphed by...

The winners of this year’s recipients of the Walter Cronkite Awards had a common theme: Combating misinformation.

So when award sponsor USC Annenberg’s Norman Lear Center held a National Press Club luncheon for the honorees last week, there was a bit of reminder of the stakes: During the ceremony news unfolded of the unsealing of former President Donald Trump’s federal indictment.

Many of the winners reported on Trump and his false claims of a stolen 2020 election, something that he has repeated during his current election campaign. He’s also called the indictment itself the “boxes hoax.”

Martin Kaplan, director of The Norman Lear Center, said, “Disinformation is an apt focus in particular for the Cronkite award, not only because it feels like disinformation is everywhere all at once, but because the namesake of this award is Walter Cronkite” who was known as “the most trusted man in America.

Once, no serious documentary could be without its authoritative voiceover in perfect English. But film-makers are now rejecting the whole idea. Are social media and post-truth politics to blame?

At the 1990 Academy Awards, the nominations for documentary featured a surprising number of actors. Dustin Hoffman lent his voice to a film about the Aids memorial quilt, Joe Mantegna told the tale of one US county’s crack epidemic, while Gregory Peck narrated a biography of chief justice Earl Warren. Fast forward to this year’s ceremony and the actors had gone quiet. With the exception of Riz Ahmed’s dubbing on the English-language version of Flee, the shortlisted films had no booming star narrator. In fact, they had no traditional narrators at all.

This could, of course, be a quirk of the Academy’s ever-changing preferences, or an anomalous year. But, says Dr Catalin Brylla, principal lecturer in film and television at Bournemouth University,...

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is premiering footage from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Pt. 2 at New York Comic-Con. Read more about the the epic animated conclusion of the adaptation of Frank Miller’s landmark story in the attached press release.

Press Release:

The footage will be revealed at a panel on Saturday, October 13 from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in the IGN Theater at the Jacob Javitz Center. Executive producer Bruce Timm, dialogue/casting director Andrea Romano and special guests will discuss the making of the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie and show some clips. The panel will also announce the 2013 slate of Dcu animated films.

Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 will arrive from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in early 2013.

An autograph session with Timm & Romano will follow the panel at 2:00 p.m. in the DC Entertainment booth.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment spotlights first footage of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 and premiere screening of The Batmobile documentary at New York Comic Con.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 and The Batmobile documentary

will be the spotlight offerings from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

at New York Comic Con.

Attendees of the Con will be the first to see footage from Batman: The

Dark Knight Returns, Part 2, the highly anticipated epic animated

conclusion to Frank Miller’s landmark story. On Saturday, October 13

from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in the IGN Theater at the Jacob Javitz Center,

executive producer Bruce Timm, dialogue/casting director Andrea Romano

and special guests will discuss the making of the next DC Universe

Animated Original Movie and show some tantalizing clips. Also

anticipated during the panel is the announcement of the 2013 slate of

Dcu animated films. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and

Warner Bros. Animation,...

Late last month Warner Bros. released what is arguably their best DC animated adventure in The Dark Knight Returns Part 1, and adaptation of Frank Miller's classic story of the same name. Fans are now eager to see what's in store for them in the consclusion. WB announced today that the first footage from the upcoming release will debut at New York Comic Con, and attached the first still from the film in case you can't wait that long.

Seriously, if you haven't taken the time to watch Tdkr: Part 1, go out and buy it now. I doubt you'll be disappointed with the purchase. It's well worth your time, and in my opinion the best WB has put out in their animated features. Anyway, below is the first image from the upcoming Part 2 (it's not incredibly impressive, but it's got me excited), and the full press release. The release also...

In addition to releasing the first still image from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has also issued a press release that confirms they will be premiering the first bit of footage from the upcoming film at the New York Comic Con later this month. The press release also goes into detail about The Batmobile documentary that will be premiering on Friday, October 12th at the convention.

Click to see larger image.

Press Release:

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 and The Batmobile documentary will be the spotlight offerings from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment at New York Comic Con.

Attendees of the Con will be the first to see footage from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2, the highly anticipated epic animated conclusion to Frank Miller’s landmark story. On Saturday, October 13 from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in the IGN Theater at the Jacob Javitz Center,...

Imagine your all-time favorite superhero vehicles. Now think back to how many times you sat in your room (or classroom) fantasizing about one day navigating them. In your mind, you’ve probably been aboard S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Helicarrier or piloted the X-Men’s Blackbird. Maybe you’ve caused havoc on Green Goblin’s Goblin Glider or surfed the galaxy on Silver Surfer’s cosmic board. But more than any vehicle, you’ve probably imagined driving one of the many Batmobiles from either the comics, the TV shows, or the movies. You’re doing it right now, aren’t you?

Next Monday, The CW will air a special documentary on the history of the Batmobile titled The Batmobile. The documenter was directed by Roko Belic, produced by Tara Tremaine and will tell the story of the evolution of the Caped ...

Click to continue reading ‘The Batmobile’ Documentary...

“The Batmobile” Documentary Special Premieres Monday July 16 At 8:00 Pmon The CW Network

July 9, 2012 (Burbank, CA) ─ The broadcast network premiere of the new half-hour special on the history and evolution of the Batmobile – The Batmobile – will air on Monday, July 16, 8:00-8:30pm Et on The CW. An encore of the special will air from 8:30-9:00pm Et.

The special will have its world premiere screening at Comic Con in San Diego on July 12, where all six of the Batmobiles from film and television will also appear for the first time together.

From its inception in the late 1930s, the Batmobile has been a symbol of power, hope and justice, as well as the pinnacle of technology as the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman’s arsenal. In its contemporary and most robust form as the Tumbler, the Batmobile is a combination of unbridled creativity, advanced technology and...

The broadcast network premiere of the new half-hour special on the history and evolution of the Batmobile - The Batmobile - will air on Monday, July 16, 8:00-8:30pm Et on The CW. An encore of the special will air from 8:30-9:00pm Et. Check out the following picture to see the on-screen evolution of this iconic vehicle.

The special will have its world premiere screening at Comic-Con in San Diego on July 12, where all six of the Batmobiles from film and television will also appear for the first time together.

From its inception in the late 1930s, the Batmobile has been a symbol of power, hope and justice, as well as the pinnacle of technology as the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman's arsenal. In its contemporary and most robust form as the Tumbler, the Batmobile is a combination of unbridled creativity, advanced technology and the pursuit of "justice on wheels.

My So Called Life may have had the World Happiness dance, but Academy Award nominated documentarian Roko Belic (Genghis Blues) is doing them one better with World Happy Day tomorrow, Saturday February 11. Belic promises that “thousands of people will join together in communities across the globe to experience the film Happy and begin their journeys toward healthier and happier lives.” As part of the event, the film will screen in 600 locations in 60 countries over all seven continents. Learn more at the film’s website here. Oh Happy Day!...

A scene from Roko Belic’s documentary, ‘Happy.’

Documentary filmmaker Roko Belic learned a lot about happiness over the five years he spent making “Happy,” a look at the scientific and spiritual underpinnings of that most elusive emotion. Now, in an effort to spread some happiness—and his film—Belic is launching World Happy Day on Feb. 11, a day of coordinated screenings of “Happy” around the globe.

Belic, 40, who shared an Academy Award nomination in 1999 with his brother Adrian for their documentary “Genghis Blues,...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt might only be 30 years old, but he has already distinguished himself as an actor with a wide range. Beginning in commercials as a young child, he made his film debut in 1992′s Beethoven, but it wasn’t until 1996 that he became a household name, co-starring in the television sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. After a hiatus during which he attended Columbia University, Gordon-Levitt left television for film acting, and ever since, his career has continued to grow year after year. Levitt has been one of my favourite upcoming actors of the past decade, starring in some of my favourite indie films. Of course there are many reasons to love Jgl. I could mention his gorgeous slanted smile, his dark wavy hair or his noirish and intense eyes – I mean, this dude even looks hot in drag (see above photo). But with that said, lets instead focus on his film career.

It would be easy to describe Totally F***ed Up (1993), an early film from New Queer Cinema pioneer Gregg Araki, as a “relationship drama”. The film deals mostly with the highs and lows of romance for a group of young gay friends in La in the early Nineties: Andy (James Duvall); Tommy (Roko Belic); and two couples, Michele (Susan Behshid) and Patricia (Jenee Gill), and Steven (Gilbert Luna) and Deric (Lance May).

(...)...

In 2005, Executive Producer Tom Shadyac (Director/Producer Liar Liar, Patch Adams, Bruce Almighty) handed Director Roko Belic a New York Times article that ranked the United States 23rd on its list of happiest countries. Shadyac, himself dissatisfied with his luxurious Beverly Hills lifestyle, asked Belic to make a documentary investigation into the origins of human happiness-and why the U.S. ranks so low. This simple inquiry led to a global exploration of happiness.

Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical

Curmudgeons, look the other way: Happiness is gaining momentum on the big screen.

A few years ago, we saw how joy could reframe life in 'Happy-Go-Lucky,' and now there's a new documentary striving to understand happiness. The latest feature from Oscar-nominated director Roko Belic ('Genghis Blues'), 'Happy' uses interviews with scientists and everyday people to showcase "a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy."

When one subject in the trailer leads with "When I was run over by a truck," it sounds a lot like that conversation about happiness from 'Before Sunset.' Remember it? "I read this study where they followed people who won the lottery, and people who had become paraplegic. ... After about six months, as soon as people got used to their new situation,...

Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical

Curmudgeons, look the other way: Happiness is gaining momentum on the big screen.

A few years ago, we saw how joy could reframe life in 'Happy-Go-Lucky,' and now there's a new documentary striving to understand happiness. The latest feature from Oscar-nominated director Roko Belic ('Genghis Blues'), 'Happy' uses interviews with scientists and everyday people to showcase "a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy."

When one subject in the trailer leads with "When I was run over by a truck," it sounds a lot like that conversation about happiness from 'Before Sunset.' Remember it? "I read this study where they followed people who won the lottery, and people who had become paraplegic. ... After about six months, as soon as people got used to their new situation,...

Tom Shadyac's documentary I Am to be released by PaladinI Am, the latest film by renowned director Tom Shadyac, will be released theatrically by Paladin, it was announced by the company's President and CEO, Mark Urman. A prismatic and probing exploration of our world, what's wrong with it, and what we can do to make it better, I Am represents Shadyac's first foray into non-fiction following a career as one of Hollywood's leading comedy practitioners, with such successful titles as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty to his credit. Paladin is planning a February, 2011 release for the film, and has already laid the groundwork for an intensive months-long screening program that includes major film festivals as well as a broad range of college and university campuses throughout the country. The film will next be seen at the Hamptons Film Festival later this week.

I Am recounts...

A Happy Update! By Roko Belic Kickstarter has been the main social networking tool for this movie. After initial funding, the filmmaker Roko raised another $33,000 for post-production through Kickstarter. Here's a little bit about what's been going on with the film and the Happy world in general! We're making excellent progress (thanks to all of you) and we hope to have further updates down the line as the film creeps ever closer to completion. - Music Composing/Graphics and Animation: Nearing completion! We'll be posting some cool video blogs about this soon, and maybe some other things too! - Sound…...

Not only does Joseph Gordon-Levitt run the acting gamut, moving from indie dramas like Brick to major blockbusters like G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra , he's an actor in tune with the filmmaking process. Through his own production company, hitRECord , Gordon-Levitt aims to get at the collaborative nature of film, establishing an online community focused on shared works and combined artistic contributions. For Inception , Gordon-Levitt pulled a double duty. Not only does he star as Arthur, a member of the Cobb's (Leonardo DiCaprio) team of extractors, but, behind the scenes, hitRECord contributed to a dream-focused documentary directed by Roko Belic. In an exclusive conversation with ComingSoon.net, Gordon-Levitt discusses Inception , hitRECord's work behind the scenes, and...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is launching an interesting project on hitRecord.org in conjunction with Christopher Nolan's Inception. I just recieved an e-mail asking /Film readers to be a part of it. You can read more about the project, direct for Joe, after the jump. From Joe: Inception is coming out soon, and in conjunction with its release, they're making a documentary on dreams. When I was asked to participate, I suggested that hitRECord contribute to the project. This is gonna be fucking awesome. The documentarian directing it is a guy named Roko Belic. He and I recently sat down to discuss how we can best throw our flavor into the mix. Largely, it seems he's looking for dreamy visuals for cutaways. He mentioned five archetypal dreams and asked us to create visual/graphic/animated/cinematic interpretations. 1. Inappropriate Dress 2. Teeth Falling Out 3. Flying 4. Being Chased 5. Falling If you want to shoot...