TRAINSPOTTING COMES HOME TO EDINBURGH

Volkswagen celebrates 15^th anniversary of cult classic with screening in original Edinburgh film location

A one-off screening of Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting, based on the Irvine Welsh book of the same name, is set to take place on Wednesday 2 February at the Royal Scottish Academy, followed by an exclusive exhibition held at Ingleby Gallery - two key locations which feature in the cult British classic.

The film, which celebrates its 15^th anniversary this year, is the third free event in Volkswagen’s See Film Differently series.  It follows original location screenings of An American Werewolf in London which was held inside ZSL London Zoo and gangster classic, Get Carter, shown at Newcastle Racecourse; both notable locations featured in the classic films.

The immersive cinema experience will turn the camera on the original Edinburgh film locations and is designed to provide a behind the scenes-style insight into the BAFTA award winning favourite.

Fans of the movie will be able to watch the film in the Royal Scottish Academy, an iconic building which features in the background of the unforgettable opening chase scene which sees Renton, played by Ewan McGregor, being chased down Princes Street.   

After the screening, local film fans will be invited to follow Renton’s route to the Ingleby Gallery on Calton Road, where the chase ends abruptly after Renton is hit by a car. 

The exclusive exhibition held at the Ingleby Gallery will feature rare stills, original promotional material and photography, along with a live DJ set featuring music from the film.

Tickets for the event are free and available courtesy of Volkswagen through an online ticket draw.  For the chance to win tickets, film fans should log on to www.seefilmdifferently.com, and register their interest.  Tickets will be available from Wednesday 12^th January until midday on Friday 28^th January and all lucky winners will be informed on Friday 28^th January.  Tickets will be allocated at random.

Those fortunate enough to attend will enjoy luxury seating and complimentary high-end cinema style food.

Film fans can find out more about Volkswagen’s campaign and share their views on the events by visiting the Facebook page:www.facebook.com/seefilmdifferently. 

Dolby partners with RAAM for prestigious 3D award

This year Dolby Laboratories, a leader in digital cinema services, is to sponsor the RAAM Awards “3D Movie of the Year” category. The award will be presented to the highest grossing 3D movie during 2010 (Jan 1 – Dec 31 2010) at a gala dinner in London’s five star Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in the heart of Mayfair.

Richard Welsh, Director of Digital Cinema Services (UK) at Dolby said, “Dolby is pleased to be partnering with RAAM for such an important award. In 2010, there were a significant number of high-grossing movies produced in 3D, proving the technology’s popularity with the public and its significance to the cinema industry.”

Tony Meehan Chairman of RAAM commented

“We are very happy to welcome Dolby to our growing list of sponsors. We recognise the importance of 3D to the industry and we recognise the opportunity which this award offers to Dolby and the industry as a whole.”

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner in London’s Mayfair Marriott Hotel on the 9^th February 2011 where the guest of honour will be FDA President, Lord Puttnam.

David Puttnam spent thirty years as an independent film producer.   His many award winning films include The Mission, the Killing Fields, Local Hero, Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone, and the Memphis Belle.

Hindus concerned about “Monkeys of Bollywood”

Expressing concern at the recently announced animated musical “Monkeys of Bollywood”, Hindus have urged its proposed maker DreamWorks Animation to be careful in handling Hindu concepts and terminology.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that since the reported movie announcement claimed it to be “inspired” by timeless epic Ramayan and Ramayan being a highly revered scripture of Hinduism, the film should stay true to the story and the spirit of Ramayan. Insensitive handling of faith traditions sometimes results in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols and hurting the devotees.

With seasoned and skillful professionals at the helm, we did not expect any problem, Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said and added that they were just urging for more sensitivity towards faith traditions. If DreamWorks Animation or their associates in this film needed any expertise on Hinduism related issues, he or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide the resources, Zed added.

Hindus welcomed Hollywood/Bollywood to immerse in Hinduism, but taking it seriously and respectfully and not for refashioning Hinduism concepts and symbols for mercantile greed. Hollywood/Bollywood were welcome to make movies about Ramayan but the final product should be the true depiction of it and not a fantasized or a re-imagined version, Rajan Zed pointed out.

Zed argued that changing Ramayan to fit the Hollywood/Bollywood machine was likely to hurt the Hindu sentiment as Ramayan was an integral part of Hinduism and was held in such reverence that Hindus believed that simply reading/hearing of it showered blessings upon the reader/listener. Ram, the hero of Ramayan, was incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and was worshipped by Hindus.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. No faith, larger or smaller, should be plundered, Rajan Zed adds.

This is said to be the first feature musical for DreamWorks. Directors Paul Mayeda Berges (What’s Cooking) and Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), lyricist Stephen Schwartz and Oscar winner composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) have reportedly teamed on Bollywood-style “Monkeys of Bollywood”, which reportedly revolves around two monkeys. DreamWorks chief creative officer Bill Damaschke and development executive Chris Kuser will reportedly oversee it.

Ramayan, an ancient Sanskrit scripture that consists of 24,000 stanzas, explores various themes, including human existence, concept of dharma, etc.

DreamWorks Animation, which claims to create high-quality entertainment, reportedly theatrically released 21 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon. Roger A. Enrico is Board Chairman, while Jeffrey Katzenberg is CEO.

Chloe’s ‘Made Up’ Over Film Industry Career

A favour while at University making photographic models look good for the camera has turned into a career as a film industry make-up artist for graduate Chloe Furze.

She will graduate with a 2:1 for her BA (Hons) in Film Studies degree course on Friday January 21, as part of the University of Derby’s Awards Ceremonies at the Derby Assembly Rooms.

Since finishing her course last summer (2010) she has rarely been out of work; doing the make-up for a music video and two feature films, a horror movie called Inbred and a Bollywood-style dance film called Some Day.

Chloe, 21, of Glebe Close, Bolton Percy, near York, said: “My flatmate when I was at Derby was a photographer and she asked me to do the make-up for some of her models, and I ended up doing the same for other photographers. I then worked on a short film called Sugar Drop, written by University lecturer Tom Craig.

“Since completing my course I’ve done the make-up for a video by an up and coming Belper musician called Leni Ward, and worked on two feature films shot in Yorkshire.”

Chloe is currently working on Gallery, a short film by York-based production company MilesTone Films, whose 2010 featureCrimeFighters was screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Gallery is being produced in association with fellow York production company Parashoots, whose chief executive is Mark Herman; director of acclaimed films Brassed Off, Little Voice and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

“It’s been very much about learning on the job, which is fine. I would like to do some further training on hair styling, though.

“When I watch a film now I’m always looking at the way they’ve done the make-up and if they could have done it better,” added Chloe.

Tom Craig, University of Derby Lecturer in Film Theory and History, said: “From the moment Chloe arrived on the Sugar Drop set, it was clear how naturally gifted she was.

“Furthermore, her background in both film theory and practise, one of the key strengths of our course, meant she really understood the effect her use of make-up would have on the audience.”